Ukraine was seeking to mend ties with South Korea, Ukrainian media reported on Thursday, quoting Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.
“I would not like to call this an incident. Let’s say, it’s a diplomatic misunderstanding,” Sybiha told journalists at an event, according to a report on news website nv.ua and other media.
The dispute comes at a sensitive time for Lee’s administration, which has sought to reduce tensions with North Korea and is also dealing with political fallout from a recent landmine incident in the Demilitarised Zone.
Cho Han-bum, a senior fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification in Seoul, said any additional measures would most likely involve support South Korea already provides to Ukraine, including humanitarian, financial and reconstruction assistance.
“Ukraine has more to lose than South Korea because it is receiving support from Seoul,” Cho said.
South Korea has provided humanitarian and financial assistance to Ukraine since Russia’s 2022 invasion and in July pledged an additional US$100 million in non-lethal support on the sidelines of the NATO summit.
“However, neither side benefits from a prolonged confrontation,” Cho said, noting that South Korea relies on Ukraine for information related to North Korea’s military activities.
