(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Ji-heon = There is speculation that behind the government's decision not to disclose the repatriation of North Korean prisoners of war captured in Ukraine was a judgment that the momentum for North Korea-US dialogue should continue.
The analysis is that this is to minimize variables by handling the prisoner of war issue behind the scenes in accordance with the principles of human rights and international law, and to revive the spark of contact between North Korea and the United States, which President Donald Trump has helped fuel.
According to a diplomat on the 27th, the South Korean government maintains the position that it was inevitable to keep the issue of repatriation of North Korean prisoners of war, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky disclosed on the 23rd, from the public.
In particular, President Lee Jae-myung took the stand and announced the government's firm position on social media on the 24th, saying, "Considering the various problems that would arise from disclosure, keeping it private was reasonable in all respects."
This raises speculation that the government is continuing related diplomatic activities with a focus on revitalizing the momentum for dialogue between North Korea and the United States.
North Korea shows a heroic attitude toward the dispatch of troops to the Ukraine war, with Chairman Kim Jong-un describing it as a "sacrifice of life" and a "sacred contribution" and building a memorial to the dispatch of troops.
Accordingly, since the occurrence of North Korean prisoners of war wishing to defect is an unwelcome topic for North Korea, the negotiating partner, it may be necessary for South Korea to reduce controversy by dealing with it secretly rather than bringing it to the forefront and handling it openly.
This approach can also be inferred from the fact that the Korean government was already treating the repatriation of prisoners of war as a fait accompli, such as by agreeing to resolve the issue "in a way that respects the free will of the parties and is consistent with international law and humanitarian principles" during the summit meeting with Ukraine last July.
Shim Sang-min, a senior research fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, said, "There are aspects of North Korea that are expected to oppose it, so it appears that there was an aspect of trying to be careful not to let this issue become an obstacle."
The government also showed efforts to revive the atmosphere of North Korea-US dialogue at the Korea-US summit between President Lee and President Trump held on the 22nd.
At the time, the summit itself was uncertain due to delays in finalizing investment in the United States, but it was confirmed with rapid progress in negotiations for investment in the United States.
One of the main agenda items put forward by South Korea at the difficult meeting was North Korea-US dialogue. President Lee expressed his expectation to President Trump that he would contribute to resolving the issue through North Korea-US dialogue in a situation where there is almost no contact between North and South Korea, and President Trump is said to have responded with the effect of "I will do so."
However, the government is wary of a situation in which the non-disclosure of the repatriation of North Korean prisoners of war to Ukraine is interpreted as a kind of 'showing respect' to North Korea.
At a time when public opinion toward North Korea is not friendly due to news of soldiers being injured due to land mine explosions in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), there is concern that even in this issue, North Korea's position may be seen as a priority.
Regarding this issue on the 25th, a high-ranking Blue House official said, “This means complying with human rights principles, and there are no further considerations.” He added, “It is right to handle it extremely cautiously and quietly and not to advertise.”
South Korea is active in creating an atmosphere for North Korea-US dialogue, the United States is focusing on President Trump's remarks, and while there is no explicit response from North Korea, there are observations that North Korea is also taking a breath to find the right timing.
Earlier, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko said on the 24th that "Chairman Kim Jong-un has been invited to visit our country" and that the visit schedule would be coordinated.
However, it is reported that Kim Jong-un's visit to Russia is only a valid proposal from the time Russian President Vladimir Putin, who visited Pyongyang, invited him in June 2024, and that there is currently no significant movement.
There is speculation in the diplomatic world that Chairman Kim may be focusing his attention on the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, China, in November, instead of distributing his diplomatic power as the places he can visit in person are limited.
