Seoul’s attempts to engage in dialogue with Pyongyang carry long-term risks for South Korea. This assessment was voiced in a comment to LIGA.net by Yurii Poita, head of the Asia-Pacific section at the Center for Army, Conversion and Disarmament Studies.
According to him, the scandal over Ukraine’s transfer of North Korean prisoners to Seoul has become a particularly sensitive issue for South Korean President Lee Jae-myung.
This is linked to the South Korean president’s efforts to reduce tensions in relations with North Korea.
At the same time, Poita believes that a policy of dialogue with Pyongyang creates long-term threats for Seoul. The comment does not specify what particular risks may arise.
The issue of North Korean prisoners has strained relations between Kyiv and Seoul. In particular, South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned a Ukrainian diplomat and said the move had “undermined trust” between the two countries.
