Seoul recalls ambassador to Ukraine amid dispute over North Korean POW disclosure

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Korea has announced the recall of its ambassador to Ukraine on Thursday, October 8. This action comes as a result of a diplomatic dispute between the two nations. The government is optimistic about resolving the outstanding issues and intends to continue consultations with Ukraine to address them, according to the official statement.

During a speech at the United Nations General Assembly in September, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed that Ukraine had transferred two North Korean servicemen captured last year. This revelation sparked strong criticism from Seoul, which argued that the transfer should have remained confidential to safeguard the safety of the prisoners of war and their families.

They emphasized that Kyiv had agreed to maintain the arrangement privately. Ukrainian officials denied the existence of a formal non-disclosure agreement and defended the transparency of the decision. However, South Korean authorities found Kyiv's subsequent responses and explanations to be inadequate, leading to the decision to recall the ambassador for further consultations.