South Korea recalls Ukraine envoy over prisoner-of-war row

South Korea has remarked it will recall its ambassador to Ukraine, the latest escalation in a diplomatic spat between both countries.

Key points

• South Korean Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo had in September lodged a formal complaint with his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Vieshkin over the matter.
• It began last month when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky unveiled that his administration had transferred two captured North Korean soldiers to Seoul.
• In an official note on Thursday, South Korea's Foreign Ministry remarked it would continue consultations with the Ukrainian side, adding that it anticipated that various outstanding issues.
• This person were among thousands from the country supporting Russia in the Ukraine war, had earlier informed local media they wanted to be sent to South Korea.
• This July, Seoul had confirmed a $100 million assistance package to Ukraine.

Seoul notes Ukraine broke an agreement to keep the transfer a secret but Zelensky's office maintains that there was no non-disclosure agreement in place.

For context, the two North Korean soldiers. This person were among thousands from the country supporting Russia in the Ukraine war, had earlier informed local media they wanted to be sent to South Korea.

And earlier this week, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun remarked he received an apology from his Ukrainian counterpart, but went on that it fell short of Seoul's expectations, according to local reports.

But on Wednesday, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi remarked to journalists at a media briefing that its Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha had not apologised, according to Ukrainian news site Liga.

In an official note on Thursday, South Korea's Foreign Ministry remarked it would "continue consultations with the Ukrainian side", adding that it anticipated that "various outstanding issues. Be resolved smoothly". Ukraine notes it captured two injured North Korean soldiers in Russia.

Thousands of North Koreans fought for Russia. A memorial hints at the death toll.

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

It prompted a swift condemnation from South Korean President Lee Jae Myung. This person called it "greatly disappointing" and remarked the transfer was a "highly sensitive issue" impacting national security.

President Lee additionally faced heavy criticism at home in light of the revelation, with local opposition accusing him of wanting to cover up the transfer to appease Pyongyang.

According to But his office, it had been kept confidential partly to protect the North Koreans' families and went on that Kyiv additionally wanted the transfer kept secret to avoid criticism that it had given up an opportunity to exchange the soldiers for Ukrainian prisoners of war.

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

Notably, the spat escalated when Zelensky's office responded claiming that the two countries did not have a non-disclosure agreement.

Seoul afterwards demanded Ukraine apologise for "announcing a falsehood" and stated its actions had seriously damaged trust between the two nations.

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

After North Korean troops were deployed to backing Russia in 2024, Kyiv stepped up pressure on South Korea to supply cutting-edge anti-air missiles to assist defend Ukraine's energy infrastructure from Russian drone and missile attacks.

This July, Seoul had confirmed a $100 million assistance package to Ukraine. Lee's office remarked it would be an expansion of earlier assistance which was comprised of non-lethal items including helmets, personal armour and medical equipment.

Meanwhile Russia's foreign ministry has cautioned it would have "no choice but to retaliate" if South Korea provided Ukraine with arms, without specifying action it might take.

South Korea has long pursued cordial ties with its neighbours who may be at odds with its ally, the US.

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, it has worked to deepen trade and diplomatic relations with Russia. It borders North Korea, and views both Moscow and Beijing as key partners in efforts to influence Pyongyang.

In short, south Korea recalls Ukraine envoy over prisoner-of is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.