Seoul warns 'further action' if Ukraine does not apologise over prisoner-of-war row
14 hours ago
Kelly Ng
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President Lee Jae Myung also accused Kyiv of "attempting to provoke a war on the Korean Peninsula"
South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung has threatened to take unspecified "further action" if Ukraine does not issue a public apology for revealing that two North Korean prisoners of war had been sent to the South.
Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky made the disclosure to the UN general assembly last week, angering Seoul, who said the move was meant to stay secret.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on Thursday described the situation as a "diplomatic misunderstanding", adding that Kyiv was "working" to resolve it.
Lee rejected this characterisation on X, saying it concerned "the dignity of the Korean people and the nation".
Lee's office said last week that it was Ukraine that requested for the move to be kept secret, partly to protect the North Koreans' families, and also because Kyiv wanted to avoid criticism that it had given up an opportunity to exchange the soldiers for Ukrainian prisoners of war.
Zelensky's office responded, saying the two countries had no such agreement to keep the move confidential, further escalating the situation.
Lee himself faced heavy criticism at home after Zelensky's disclosure, with the South Korean opposition accusing him of covering up the transfer to appease Pyongyang.
The two soldiers, who were among thousands of North Koreans supporting Russia in the Ukraine war, had earlier told local media they wanted to be sent to South Korea.
Speaking to Ukrainian media on Thursday, Sybiha, the foreign minister, said he "hopes that this situation will be resolved in the very near future".
"We are working on it. For us, South Korea is an important country. And I really hope for momentum, continuation, and concrete results that we are truly achieving with them," he said.
Lee, in response, accused Kyiv of attempting to "bring war on the Korean Peninsula".
"We express serious regret that, instead of acknowledging the facts of the agreement and apologising, they are talking about an imminent military clash between the North and South," he said in an X post.
Seoul has been sympathetic to Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion, but has adhered to its longstanding policy of not providing lethal weapons to any country engaged in active war.
President Lee Jae Myung also accused Kyiv of "attempting to provoke a war on the Korean Peninsula"
South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung has threatened to take unspecified "further action" if Ukraine does not issue a public apology for revealing that two North Korean prisoners of war had been sent to the South.
Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky made the disclosure to the UN general assembly last week, angering Seoul, who said the move was meant to stay secret.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on Thursday described the situation as a "diplomatic misunderstanding", adding that Kyiv was "working" to resolve it.
Lee rejected this characterisation on X, saying it concerned "the dignity of the Korean people and the nation".
Lee's office said last week that it was Ukraine that requested for the move to be kept secret, partly to protect the North Koreans' families, and also because Kyiv wanted to avoid criticism that it had given up an opportunity to exchange the soldiers for Ukrainian prisoners of war.
Zelensky's office responded, saying the two countries had no such agreement to keep the move confidential, further escalating the situation.
Lee himself faced heavy criticism at home after Zelensky's disclosure, with the South Korean opposition accusing him of covering up the transfer to appease Pyongyang.
The two soldiers, who were among thousands of North Koreans supporting Russia in the Ukraine war, had earlier told local media they wanted to be sent to South Korea.
Speaking to Ukrainian media on Thursday, Sybiha, the foreign minister, said he "hopes that this situation will be resolved in the very near future".
"We are working on it. For us, South Korea is an important country. And I really hope for momentum, continuation, and concrete results that we are truly achieving with them," he said.
Lee, in response, accused Kyiv of attempting to "bring war on the Korean Peninsula".
"We express serious regret that, instead of acknowledging the facts of the agreement and apologising, they are talking about an imminent military clash between the North and South," he said in an X post.
Seoul has been sympathetic to Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion, but has adhered to its longstanding policy of not providing lethal weapons to any country engaged in active war.
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Kyiv has been a snake
After more than 1 year baru kena charge……
ReplyDeleteTwo Iranian nationals, Salam Ahmadyan, 36, and Rahman Salehi, 34, were charged with preparing terrorist acts targeting Manchester’s Jewish community after being arrested in a counterterrorism operation on September 20.
https://x.com/osint613/status/2106141501449511058?s=46&t=8K6fzabO3g6uaj4KxwSSjg
Falastino flags everywhere in Frenchie protests nationwide……
ReplyDeletePalestine flags everywhere as France is being destroyed from the inside.
The Free Palestine movement has always been an Anti-West Trojan horse movement.
What starts with the Jews, rarely ends with the Jews.
https://x.com/koshercockney/status/2106041387875737927?s=46&t=8K6fzabO3g6uaj4KxwSSjg
🚨 BREAKING: The Government says the two Iranian men charged over the alleged terror plot against Jewish people in Manchester entered the UK by small boat in 2020 and 2023
ReplyDeleteOne was granted asylum and the other has a live asylum claim
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood says tonight: "The fact both suspects arrived by small boat several years ago is a reminder of the importance of our relentless work to tackle illegal migration into this country. While numbers are down, I know there is more we must do.
"It would be inappropriate to comment further on this case. But I can say that we will be unrelenting in our efforts to protect our Jewish communities, root out antisemitism in this country, and maintain our border security"
https://x.com/politlcsuk/status/2106111092388696095?s=46&t=8K6fzabO3g6uaj4KxwSSjg
⚠️WARNING - City of Belfort, France📍
ReplyDeleteHorrific
Migrant kids take down a police officer and almost kill him.
“An investigation has been opened for attempted voluntary homicide on a person vested with public authority by Belfort prosecutors”
https://x.com/koshercockney/status/2106000648516817120?s=46&t=8K6fzabO3g6uaj4KxwSSjg
Violent Falastino sapoters looking for Isaacs to “Stomp”….
ReplyDelete"Who’s a Jew here?!"
In the midst of nationwide student riots in France 🇫🇷, videos show students asking if any Jew is present to “stomp them.”
Young people have been so radicalized that they think it’s a legitimate “joke” to threat violence against Jews.
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Lee Jae Myung is totally clueless in his pursuing of Sunshine policies with Nor Kor.
ReplyDeleteTens of thousands of Nor Kor troops are supporting Putin's aggression against Ukraine, North Korean ballistic missiles are being used for wartime test against Ukraine, and this moron President wants to pick a fight against Ukraine?