By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee

Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul spoke with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha over the phone and exchanged views on Korea's support for Ukraine, the end-of-war negotiations, and the issue of repatriating North Korean military prisoners of war on March 17.

Minister Cho said it was a pleasure to speak with Sybiha following the bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Italy last November (Nov. 25), and said that the ROK government is paying close attention to the efforts to end the war and will continue to work with the international community to restore peace and reconstruction in Ukraine.

In addition, Cho said that the Seoul government will continue to provide support to the people of Ukraine based on the Korean government's Ukraine Peace and Solidarity Initiative (July 23).

Mr. Sybiha expressed thanks for the Korean government's support for Ukraine, outlined the outcomes of the recent U.S.-Ukraine high-level talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and expressed his hope that Ukraine will continue to work closely with the international community, including the United States, to achieve a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine.

Regarding the North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces, Cho emphasized the ROK government's position that they are constitutionally our citizens and that we will provide them with the necessary protection and assistance in accordance with the basic principle of accepting all of them if they wish to return to South Korea and relevant laws and regulations, and asked for the active cooperation of the Ukrainian government.