South Korea recalls ambassador to Ukraine over POW transfer dispute

By Yvette Tan

South Korea has announced it will recall its ambassador to Ukraine, marking the latest escalation in a diplomatic dispute between the two countries.

The row began last month when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that his government had transferred two captured North Korean soldiers to Seoul. Seoul claims Ukraine violated an agreement to keep the transfer confidential, but Zelensky's office maintains that no non-disclosure agreement was in place.

The two North Korean soldiers — among thousands from the country supporting Russia in the Ukraine war — had earlier told local media they wished to be sent to South Korea.

Diplomatic Exchanges

• South Korean Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo lodged a formal complaint with his Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Vieshkin, in September.
• Earlier this week, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said he received an apology from his Ukrainian counterpart, but local reports indicate he described it as falling short of Seoul's expectations.
• On Wednesday, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi told reporters that Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha had not apologised, according to Ukrainian news site Liga.
• In a statement on Thursday, South Korea's Foreign Ministry said it would "continue consultations with the Ukrainian side" and expressed hope that "various outstanding issues...[would] be resolved smoothly."

Background and Reactions

Zelensky revealed the transfer during a speech at the UN General Assembly in September, adding that the two North Koreans had not been "easy to capture alive."

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung swiftly condemned the announcement, calling it "greatly disappointing" and stating that the transfer was a "highly sensitive issue" affecting national security.

President Lee faced significant domestic criticism, with opposition figures accusing him of attempting to conceal the transfer to appease Pyongyang. His office, however, said confidentiality was maintained partly to protect the North Koreans' families and added that Kyiv also wanted the transfer kept secret to avoid criticism over forgoing an opportunity to exchange the soldiers for Ukrainian prisoners of war.

Lee's office explained that Ukraine had indicated the soldiers would be mentioned in Zelensky's address, but not the fact of their transfer.

The dispute escalated when Zelensky's office responded, claiming the two countries did not have a non-disclosure agreement. Seoul subsequently demanded an apology from Ukraine for "announcing a falsehood" and stated that the actions had seriously damaged trust between the two nations.

Broader Context

Seoul has been sympathetic to Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion but has maintained its longstanding policy of not providing lethal weapons to any country engaged in active war.

After North Korean troops were deployed to support Russia in 2024, Kyiv intensified pressure on South Korea to supply advanced anti-air missiles to help defend Ukraine's energy infrastructure from Russian drone and missile attacks.

In July, Seoul announced a $100 million assistance package for Ukraine. President Lee's office said this would expand earlier assistance, which consisted of non-lethal items including helmets, personal armour, and medical equipment.

Russia's foreign ministry has warned it would have "no choice but to retaliate" if South Korea provides Ukraine with arms, though it did not specify what action it might take.

South Korea has long pursued cordial ties with its neighbours, even those at odds with its ally, the United States. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, it has worked to deepen trade and diplomatic relations with Russia, which borders North Korea, and views both Moscow and Beijing as key partners in efforts to influence Pyongyang.

Related Topics

• Volodymyr Zelensky
• War in Ukraine
• South Korea
• North Korea
• Ukraine
• Asia