South Korea recalls ambassador to Ukraine in North Korean POW dispute
South Korea said Thursday it is recalling its ambassador to Ukraine, sharply raising a dispute over Kyiv's public disclosure that two captured North Korean soldiers had been sent to Seoul. South Korea says Ukraine broke a promise to keep the transfer secret, while Kyiv denies any such agreement. Seoul says it still hopes to settle the row through talks.
A rare quarrel between two friendly governments has escalated. South Korea said Thursday that it will recall its ambassador to Ukraine, Park Ki-chang. It is a protest over how Kyiv handled the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul.
"The government hopes that all outstanding issues between the two countries will be resolved amicably and will continue consultations with Ukraine to that end," the ministry said, according to The Korea Times. Calling an ambassador home is a strong protest that stops short of cutting ties, SBS News noted. No return date has been given.
The dispute began on September 23. That day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the United Nations that two North Korean soldiers caught while fighting for Russia had been sent to South Korea. The two men had said they wanted to live in the South because they would be punished if sent home, Geo News reported.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said the next day that Ukraine had broken an agreement to keep the transfer confidential. Seoul says the news could put the soldiers' families in North Korea at risk, DW reported. Kyiv has said no such agreement existed. Seoul demanded an explanation and an apology on September 27 and summoned Ukraine's top diplomat in Seoul the next day.
Ukraine's foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, called the row a "diplomatic misunderstanding" that he hoped to resolve. But the two sides disagree on whether Ukraine has apologized at all.
South Korea has backed Ukraine since Russia's 2022 invasion. Seoul has given about $445 million in aid, but it does not send weapons to countries at war, Geo News reported. Some experts worry the feud could make it harder for Seoul to learn about North Korea's military ties with Russia.
Ukraine has not had an ambassador in Seoul since September 2025, The Korea Times reported.
What we know: South Korea is recalling its ambassador but says it wants a friendly solution.
What we don't: How long the recall will last, and whether Kyiv will respond in kind.
Where outlets agree The Korea Times, SBS News and DW all report that Seoul's Foreign Ministry said it hopes outstanding issues with Ukraine will be resolved amicably through continued consultations.
Where they differ DW reports that Seoul demanded but did not receive an apology from Kyiv, while The Korea Times reports Foreign Minister Cho Hyun told lawmakers he got an apology message from his Ukrainian counterpart that fell short of Seoul's expectations.