South Korea May Recall Ambassador Over Zelensky’s North Korean POW Disclosure
Seoul says Ukraine’s apology after revealing the transfer of two North Korean prisoners at the UN General Assembly fell short of expectations and is weighing diplomatic measures, including recalling its ambassador. Despite Seoul’s initial criticism, Kyiv said it had informed the former of its intention prior to the speech.
South Korea has received an apology from Ukraine regarding the disclosure of two North Korean POWs transferred to the South, but Seoul believes the message did not meet their expectations, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun stated on October 6, according to Yonhap News Agency. Cho noted that the apology was one of several messages he received from Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, indicating there is a disparity from the level Seoul anticipates.
The South Korean diplomat emphasized that the government is contemplating various measures, including the potential recall of South Korea's Ambassador to Ukraine, a suggestion made by a lawmaker. President Volodymyr Zelensky sparked tensions between the nations by disclosing the transfer during his UN General Assembly speech on September 23 in New York.
South Korea alleged this violated a non-disclosure agreement, demanding an apology, while Ukraine's Presidential Office denied the existence of such an agreement, describing it as "strange" to keep the transfer confidential. The dispute intensified on October 2 when South Korean President Lee Jae Myung posted on social media, accusing Kyiv of lying about the agreement's non-existence and threatening additional actions if Ukraine fails to issue an apology.
Cho underscored during a parliamentary audit on October 6 that the arrangement aimed to safeguard North Korean soldiers and their families, asserting that Ukraine was the first to propose the non-disclosure concept. Sybiha had previously labeled the incident a "diplomatic misunderstanding," hoping for a swift resolution as South Korea remains a crucial ally.
Ukraine's Foreign Ministry has not confirmed whether Kyiv apologized to Seoul. Ukraine disclosed the capture of two North Korean soldiers in early 2025, with an estimated 11,000 North Korean troops reportedly deployed to Russia's Kursk Oblast. Ukrainian military intelligence revealed in June that over 7,000 North Korean casualties occurred during Ukraine's incursion into Russia's Kursk Oblast from August 2024 to March 2025.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Independent's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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