EU Deputy Secretary-General: "On North Korean POWs in Ukraine, We Will Help If the Korean Government Requests It"

"I Fully Understand Korea's Concerns Over North Korean POWs"
"Actively Cooperating With Korea on Cyber Threats and Maritime Security"

Olof Skoog, Deputy Secretary?General of the European External Action Service (EEAS) of the European Union (EU), is answering reporters' questions on the 19th at the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Korea office in Seoul Square, Jung?gu, Seoul. Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Korea

Olof Skoog, Deputy Secretary-General of the European External Action Service (EEAS) of the European Union (EU), said regarding the North Korean soldiers captured as prisoners of war in Ukraine, "I fully understand the humanitarian concerns being raised in Korea, but this is an issue that needs to be discussed between the Ukrainian government and the Korean government," adding, "However, I expect that Korea will ask the EU for cooperation at today's meeting, and if the EU can help, it will do so."

Deputy Secretary-General Skoog made these remarks at a press briefing held on the 19th at the office of the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Korea, located in Seoul Square, Jung-gu, Seoul. He outlined the EU's diplomatic and security policies on the Indo-Pacific region and the Korean Peninsula, as well as strategic tasks for Korea-EU cooperation regarding the war in Ukraine.

Skoog arrived in Korea the previous day. On this day, he is scheduled to meet with Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, Deputy Foreign Minister Chung Jeonghye, and Unification Minister Chung Dongyoung to discuss security in the Asia-Pacific region and Europe, and to depart Korea on the 20th.

On bilateral cooperation between Korea and the EU, Deputy Secretary-General Skoog said, "We are already actively cooperating on responses to cyber and hybrid threats and on maritime security issues," and added, "Recently, we have seen many attempts from outside to manipulate information when elections are held, and I expect we can share experiences and cooperate in this area."

He went on to say, "In particular, we can cooperate to ensure that the sanctions imposed on North Korea by the United Nations (UN) Security Council are properly implemented," adding, "We are also learning through monitoring how to prevent circumvention support such as the so-called 'shadow fleet.' With the help of partner countries, we will make sure that North Korea can no longer support Russia's war." The shadow fleet refers to vessels that transport Russian oil in circumvention of international sanctions and serve as a financial lifeline for Russia's war effort, and is estimated to number as many as 1,000 ships. These vessels frequently change their flag states, and their ownership structures are often opaque.

Regarding Korea's arms exports to Europe, he said, "Due to the war in Ukraine, there has been a growing number of requests within the EU for energy and arms support from around the world," adding, "Unlike the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the EU is not a military alliance, but it is helping European member states increase their defense spending more effectively."

Deputy Secretary-General Skoog also said, "Russia does not seem willing to accept the peace proposals put forward by the United States, Europe, and Ukraine," and added, "The EU is telling partner countries around the world to maintain sanctions on Russia and to continue their support for Ukraine. We make it clear that this is an effort for peace, not an effort to prolong the war."