South Korea to recall its ambassador to Ukraine over North Korean POW dispute: news

South Korea Recalls Ambassador to Ukraine Amid North Korean POW Diplomatic Dispute

South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has officially recalled its ambassador to Ukraine, Park Hee-chang, following an escalating diplomatic row over Kyiv’s public disclosure regarding the repatriation of North Korean prisoners of war (POWs).

The diplomatic fallout intensified after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly revealed during the UN General Assembly that Ukraine had transferred two captured North Korean soldiers to Seoul. The soldiers, captured in western Russia while deployed alongside Russian forces, had expressed a desire to resettle in South Korea rather than face severe persecution upon returning to Pyongyang.

Seoul condemned the public disclosure, arguing that Ukraine breached a strict confidentiality agreement designed to protect national security as well as the safety of the defectors and their families remaining in North Korea. South Korean officials demanded a formal apology, describing the leak as a serious violation of bilateral trust.

In response, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry stated that Kyiv remains open to restoring constructive diplomatic dialogue, emphasizing that diplomacy must prevail over emotion. Despite the envoy’s recall, South Korean officials noted that bilateral consultations will continue in an effort to resolve the dispute and maintain diplomatic channels.