South Korea recalls Ukraine envoy over prisoner-of-war row
South Korea has said it will recall its ambassador to Ukraine, the latest escalation in a diplomatic spat between both countries.
South Korea is recalling its ambassador to Ukraine due to a prisoner-of-war dispute, the latest diplomatic tension between the two nations. The conflict began last month when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky transferred two captured North Korean soldiers to Seoul. South Korea claims Ukraine violated an agreement to keep the transfer confidential, while Ukraine maintains there was no non-disclosure agreement.
The two North Korean soldiers reportedly expressed a desire to be sent to South Korea. South Korean Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo lodged a formal complaint with Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Vieshkin in September. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun received an apology from Vieshkin but said it fell short of Seoul's expectations. Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi later stated that Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha had not apologized.
South Korea has expressed disappointment over the matter and expects the outstanding issues to be resolved smoothly. Zelensky disclosed the transfer during a UN General Assembly speech, stating that the soldiers were not easily captured alive. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung called the transfer "greatly disappointing" and a "highly sensitive issue" affecting national security.
The controversy intensified when Zelensky's office said there was no non-disclosure agreement, leading Seoul to demand an apology from Ukraine for allegedly spreading false information. South Korea has historically maintained a non-lethal weapons policy towards countries involved in active conflicts. However, following North Korean troops supporting Russia in 2024, Kyiv increased pressure on South Korea to provide advanced anti-air missiles to protect Ukraine's energy infrastructure from Russian drone and missile attacks.
In July, Seoul announced a $100 million assistance package for Ukraine, comprising non-lethal items such as helmets, personal armor, and medical equipment. Russia's foreign ministry has warned South Korea that it may retaliate if South Korea supplies Ukraine with arms. South Korea has sought to maintain amicable relations with its neighbor, Russia, given its proximity and strategic importance in efforts to influence North Korea.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
