‘Non-disclosure was appropriate’, once again emphasizing the Korean government’s position

‘Private disclosure was appropriate’, once again emphasizing the Korean government’s position

A Ukrainian source said, “I wasn’t promised secrecy”…靑 “I will not answer”

(Mexico City = Yonhap News) Reporter Lim Hyeong-seop and Seol Seung-eun = As controversy continues as the South Korean government criticizes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for disclosing the repatriation of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea, the Blue House stated on the 26th that "our government's position is to respond according to consistent principles."

This can be interpreted as re-emphasizing the Korean government's existing position that non-disclosure was appropriate as being 'based on consistent principles.'

Previously, President Lee said of President Zelenskyy's remarks, "They broke the non-disclosure agreement and made it public. It is very disappointing," and a senior Blue House official also pointed out to reporters, "During the consultation with Ukraine, there was an understanding that the process would be handled quietly without disclosing it, but it is true that President Zelenskyy mentioned it in his speech contrary to the existing understanding."

However, on this day, some media outlets, citing local Ukrainian media, reported that a source in the Ukrainian President's Office refuted, saying, "Ukraine did not promise to keep (the repatriation of prisoners) secret."

In relation to this, a Blue House official met with reporters at the press center set up in Mexico City on the occasion of President Lee Jae-myung's state visit to Mexico and asked about the Blue House's position on the Ukrainian source's remarks, saying, "I don't think it is appropriate to respond in detail to the source's remarks. I will not respond to that."

Instead, this official said, "Our government's position is to respond in accordance with consistent principles based on the principles stated by a senior Blue House official yesterday, that is, based on the wishes of the parties involved, domestic law, international legal standards, and humanitarian principles."

Although there was no direct response to the remarks made by the Ukrainian source, it can be seen as a remark indirectly revealing that it is a consistent principle not to disclose the fact of prisoner repatriation.