Key facts
- South Korea will recall its ambassador to Ukraine.
- The recall is due to a dispute over Ukraine's disclosure of North Korean POWs' transfer to Seoul.
- South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun stated Ukraine initially requested the matter remain confidential.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed the transfer in a U.N. General Assembly address.
- Ukraine's Foreign Minister reportedly sent an apology that Seoul found insufficient.
South Korea announced on Thursday it will recall its ambassador to Ukraine amid a diplomatic dispute over Kyiv's disclosure of the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul. The South Korean foreign ministry stated the government takes the issue seriously and hopes for a smooth resolution of bilateral issues.
The two North Korean soldiers were captured in January 2025 while fighting for Russia in the Kursk region and arrived in South Korea in mid-September. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed their transfer in an address to the U.N. General Assembly last month.
South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun emphasized that an agreement was made from the outset to keep the matter confidential to protect the soldiers and their families, who remain in North Korea, noting that Ukraine had initially requested the information not be made public. Last week, the foreign ministry summoned Ukraine's acting ambassador, Andrii Vieshkin, to express strong concern over Ukraine's denial of this confidentiality agreement and to demand an official clarification and apology.
Cho indicated that he received a message from Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha that included an apology but stated it did not meet Seoul's expectations. The Ukrainian side has not yet issued an official message. South Korea has been attempting to resolve the dispute through diplomatic channels while stressing the importance of its relations with Ukraine.