South Korea to recall Ukraine envoy over North Korean prisoner disclosure
Seoul alleges Kyiv breached a confidentiality agreement over two prisoners’ transfer. Ukraine denies that such an agreement existed.
South Korea announced on October 8 that it would recall its ambassador to Ukraine amid a dispute over Kyiv’s disclosure of the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul.
The Foreign Ministry confirmed the recall decision in a statement and said it would continue discussions with Ukraine, hoping to resolve bilateral issues. The statement did not specify when the ambassador would return.
Seoul alleges Ukraine breached an agreement to keep the transfer confidential. Ukraine denies that such an agreement existed, according to ABC reporting. The existence and terms of the alleged agreement remain disputed.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed the transfer during a United Nations speech in September, ABC reported. South Korea said the disclosure endangered the prisoners’ families in North Korea, according to Euronews.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung called for an apology and warned of further action if Ukraine refused, ABC reported. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said it remained open to constructive dialogue despite the recall decision.
The two soldiers had been captured while fighting for Russia and had sought to go to South Korea, according to Associated Press reporting. The recall announcement concerns the ambassador; it does not establish that diplomatic relations have been severed.
This story was drafted with AI assistance from the sources listed below and reviewed by a human editor before publication.
