POW Dispute: South Korea Pulls 8 Diplomats From Ukraine
South Korea has withdrawn eight diplomatic personnel from Ukraine amid a dispute over Kyiv’s disclosure of the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said talks with his Ukrainian counterpart were continuing, while essential embassy personnel remained in the country and Seoul’s broader support for Ukraine was unchanged.
South Korea has withdrawn eight diplomatic personnel from Ukraine due to a dispute over the disclosure of a North Korean prisoner transfer, according to Foreign Minister Cho Hyun. The decision comes after President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the transfer during his UN General Assembly address on September 23. The two soldiers were captured by Ukrainian forces in Russia's Kursk region in January 2025 while fighting alongside Russian troops.
South Korea insists that the disclosure violated an agreement to keep the arrangement confidential, while Ukraine maintains it was not informed beforehand. Seoul demands an official explanation, an apology, and assurances that such disclosures will not occur again. South Korean President Lee Jae-myung threatened further measures unless Ukraine acknowledged its concerns and apologized.
The dispute began with Seoul's warning on October 2, leading to the recall of South Korea's ambassador, Park Ki-chang, on October 10. The Ministry also announced the withdrawal of embassy personnel on October 20, citing the unresolved dispute and persistent Russian airstrikes. South Korea maintains that essential staff remain in Ukraine to assist its citizens amid the ongoing conflict.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
