Georgy Tykhy, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, stated at a briefing that there is no question of severing diplomatic relations between Ukraine and South Korea. According to him, Ukrainian and foreign press quoted an alleged "preparation for breaking relations," which "does not correspond to reality." Tykhy urged journalists and the public to "be restrained and analyze the actual quotes" delivered by South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, rather than operating with simplified formulations.
Hypothetical Response Instead of a Statement on Severance
As the MFA spokesperson clarified, Cho Hyun was answering a question about whether the situation could escalate to a level threatening diplomatic relations between the two countries. According to Tykhy, the Korean minister answered hypothetically: "perhaps, if the escalation continues, a severance will happen." At the same time, the representative of the Ukrainian foreign policy department emphasized, both sides are working to prevent further escalation of the conflict. "The quote from the Minister of South Korea was completely opposite" to what was presented in the media space, Tykhy stated.
Criticism of the "Headline Factory"
Georgy Tykhy directly addressed journalists with criticism regarding the mechanisms of creating news headlines. "Why from this particular answer — we know how our headline factory works — did it turn out precisely that he allowed the severance of diplomatic relations?" he asked. According to the spokesperson, against the background of ongoing scandals, a part of the audience develops a desire to "throw something else in so it burns brighter," and he urged not to do this. "The signals, if you look at them, are much more neutral than what flew into our media," the representative of the Ukrainian MFA summarized.
Causes of the Diplomatic Dispute
The diplomatic dispute between Kyiv and Seoul escalated after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced at a UN General Assembly session about the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea. South Korean President Lee Jae-myung stated that the disclosure of this information violated the confidentiality agreement reached between the two states. This became the trigger for a series of mutual claims and escalating rhetoric in the public space.
Seoul's Steps and Current Dynamics
Against the backdrop of the conflict, South Korea recalled its ambassador from Ukraine, which became one of the most prominent diplomatic gestures within the current dispute. Nevertheless, according to the Ukrainian MFA, the parties continue interaction at the working level aimed at de-escalation. Kyiv emphasizes that neither side has initiated a formal severance of diplomatic relations, and public statements are of a hypothetical assessment of possible scenarios while maintaining the current dynamics.
Prospects for Normalization of Relations
The statement by the Ukrainian MFA spokesperson records Kyiv's attempt to lower the degree of public confrontation and return the discourse to the plane of working diplomatic contacts. At the same time, the key condition for de-escalation remains the issue of respecting confidentiality enshrined in bilateral agreements. As long as both sides maintain communication channels and do not proceed to formal procedures for breaking relations, the diplomatic dispute, according to the assessment of the Ukrainian foreign ministry, remains within the framework of a manageable conflict.
