S. Korea, Ukraine had no discussion on timing of disclosing NK POW repatriation: diplomat

The Korea Times - Oct 18, 2026

WARSAW — South Korea and Ukraine had formed a consensus to keep discussions on the repatriation of captured North Korean soldiers confidential for as long as possible, a South Korean diplomat said Sunday. Yoon Ji-wan, charge d'affaires at the South Korean Embassy in Ukraine, made the remark during a parliamentary audit by the subcommittee on foreign affairs conducted at the South Korean Embassy in Poland. "We had no discussions on a timeline for disclosure, but we did share the idea that confidentiality should be maintained for as long as possible," Yoon said via video. Yoon said the embassy in Ukraine was caught off guard when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed the repatriation of the North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) during his address to the U.N. General Assembly on Sept. 23. Yoon added that Ukraine had yet to provide a specific explanation on why Zelenskyy made that disclosure. "Even within Ukraine, there has been criticism over the lack of internal coordination and the spontaneous breach of confidentiality," Yoon said. "The Ukrainian side has not refuted our claim

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