South Korea Made No Military Aid Pledge to Ukraine over Transfer of North Koreans, Lawmaker Says
Seoul says the transfer was meant to stay confidential to protect the soldiers and their families, while lawmakers said the pair arrived in mid-September.
- On Wednesday, South Korea's National Intelligence Service reported that Ukraine initially requested secrecy regarding the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea, confirming a shared confidentiality understanding existed.
- Tensions emerged after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed the transfer during a United Nations address last week, prompting Seoul to demand an explanation for the breach of the alleged confidentiality agreement.
- The two North Korean soldiers arrived in South Korea in mid-September with no major health problems and are currently undergoing standard questioning and security screening by South Korean authorities.
- On Monday, South Korea's foreign ministry summoned Andrii Vieshkin, Ukraine's acting ambassador, to express concern over Kyiv's denial of the secrecy pact, while a Ukrainian official has denied any nondisclosure agreement existed.
- Regarding military support, the NIS clarified that South Korea made no promise of aid to Ukraine. Separately, Zelenskyy reported more than 8,000 North Korean troops are now on Russian territory.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Channel News Asia
South Korea made no military aid pledge to Ukraine over transfer of North Koreans, lawmaker says
SEOUL: South Korea made no promise to provide military support for Ukraine's fight against Russia in the transfer of two captured North Korean soldiers, a South Korean lawmaker said on Wednesday (Sep 30), citing the country's intelligence agency. Ukraine imposed no preconditions on the transfer of the pa
The South Korean authorities made no commitments in exchange for the release of two North Korean soldiers by the Kiev regime, and Seoul did not promise to provide military assistance to Ukraine.
Transfer of captured soldiers to South Korea was announced by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his UN address last week
(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporters Park Soo-yoon and Jo Da-woon = The National Intelligence Service stated on the 30th, regarding Ukraine's repatriation of North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea, "From the initial stages of consultations (between the two countries), Ukraine ..."
The National Intelligence Service (NIS) announced on the 30th that South Korean and Ukrainian authorities have agreed to conduct consultations regarding the repatriation of North Korean prisoners of war in private from the initial stages. However, it is reported that there were no consultations or agreements between the leaders of the two countries. Rep. Yoo Young-ha of the People Power Party, the opposition party's ranking member on the Nationa…
Spy agency says Ukraine first requested confidentiality over transfer of N. Korean POWs
Ukraine was the first to ask the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) to South Korea be kept a secret, Seoul's spy agency said Wednesday, adding the two countries had a shared understanding to keep the transfer confidential from the beginning of the transfer process. In a briefing to the National Assembly's intelligence committee, the National Intelligence Service (NIS) also said the two North Korean soldiers arrived in South Kor…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 45% of the sources lean Right
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
