South Korea said it would continue weighing humanitarian and reconstruction aid for Ukraine as Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha in Paris, with bilateral relations strained by a dispute over two North Korean prisoners.
The ministers met Tuesday during a Group of Seven foreign ministers' gathering, the South Korean Foreign Ministry said Wednesday. It was their first in-person meeting since Ukraine disclosed the transfer in September. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced during an address to the U.N. General Assembly that two North Korean prisoners of war had been transferred to South Korea.
Seoul said the disclosure violated an understanding to keep the transfer confidential.
Cho said better relations depended on the governments treating each other with respect, maintaining trust and carrying out their commitments. The ministry said he also hoped outstanding issues could be resolved smoothly.
Cho described assistance to Ukraine as part of South Korea's responsibilities in the international community. Seoul would continue examining ways to provide humanitarian help and contribute to Ukraine's reconstruction, the ministry said.
Sybiha urged the governments to coordinate to preserve and strengthen their ties, and thanked Seoul for its commitment to help Ukraine, the ministry said. The ministers also discussed regional matters, including the Korean Peninsula.
