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South Korea Recalls Ukraine Ambassador Over POW Disclosure
South Korea Recalls Ukraine Ambassador Over POW Disclosure
South Korea has recalled its ambassador to Ukraine amid a diplomatic dispute over Kyiv’s public disclosure of the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea.
Seoul said Ambassador Park Ki-chang would return home, but stressed that it had not suspended diplomatic relations with Ukraine. The Foreign Ministry said consultations would continue as both sides seek to resolve the disagreement.
How the Dispute Began
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed during a United Nations General Assembly address on September 23 that two North Korean soldiers captured while fighting for Russia had been transferred to South Korea.
The soldiers were captured by Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region in January 2025 while serving alongside Russian troops.
South Korean officials said the men later expressed a desire to settle in South Korea rather than return to North Korea. The transfer reportedly took place in mid-September 2026.
Seoul had kept the operation confidential because of concerns for the soldiers and their relatives still living in North Korea.
Dispute Over Confidentiality
South Korea says Ukraine agreed that the transfer would not be publicly disclosed and that Kyiv had requested confidentiality.
Ukraine disputes that such a formal non-disclosure agreement existed. Kyiv has instead described the matter as a diplomatic misunderstanding and said it wants to resolve the issue quickly.
That disagreement has become the central issue in the diplomatic row.
| South Korea’s position | Ukraine’s position |
| A confidentiality understanding existed | Kyiv disputes the existence of a formal agreement |
| Disclosure could endanger the soldiers and their families | The controversy is a diplomatic misunderstanding |
| Ukraine should provide a fuller apology | Ukraine wants to preserve relations with Seoul |
Seoul Says Apology Was Insufficient
South Korea demanded an explanation and apology from Ukraine.
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said Kyiv had sent a message containing an apology, but that Seoul considered it insufficient. He warned that South Korea would take firm measures.
The recall of Ambassador Park is the first major diplomatic step Seoul has announced in response to the dispute.
However, South Korea has not expelled Ukrainian diplomats or broken diplomatic ties.
Why the Soldiers Matter
The two prisoners are important because they could provide rare firsthand information about North Korea’s military involvement in Russia’s war against Ukraine.
North Korea has supported Russia with troops and weapons. Western and South Korean officials have warned that Russia could provide Pyongyang with military technology and battlefield experience in return.
The soldiers could potentially offer information about:
- North Korean troop deployment.
- Training and battlefield procedures.
- Weapons and equipment.
- Cooperation with Russian forces.
- Possible technology transfers from Moscow to Pyongyang.
Zelenskyy has used the presence of North Korean soldiers to argue that the war has become a broader international security issue.
Security Concerns for Families
South Korean officials say secrecy was intended to protect the two men and their relatives in North Korea.
North Korea generally regards defections as hostile acts and has historically reacted strongly when citizens leave the country.
That makes the disclosure sensitive for Seoul, particularly as President Lee Jae Myung’s government seeks to manage relations with Pyongyang while maintaining international partnerships.
Seoul Still Wants Relations With Kyiv
Despite its anger, South Korea has strategic reasons to preserve ties with Ukraine.
Seoul has provided humanitarian assistance to Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion and remains interested in information about Russian military cooperation with North Korea.
Ukraine, for its part, benefits from South Korea’s humanitarian support and diplomatic relationship.
Both governments therefore have incentives to contain the disagreement rather than allow it to damage broader cooperation.
Serious Escalation, Not a Break
Recalling an ambassador is a significant diplomatic signal. It allows Seoul to demonstrate strong displeasure without immediately severing relations.
South Korea’s decision to keep consultations open suggests that the recall is intended to pressure Kyiv while preserving a path toward reconciliation.
The dispute could still be contained if Ukraine provides an explanation and apology acceptable to Seoul, although the disagreement over whether a confidentiality agreement existed remains unresolved.
Bottom Line
South Korea has recalled its ambassador to Ukraine over Kyiv’s disclosure that two North Korean soldiers captured while fighting for Russia had been transferred to South Korea.
Seoul says the transfer was covered by a confidentiality understanding, while Ukraine disputes that such a formal agreement existed.
The recall marks a serious deterioration in relations, but South Korea has not suspended diplomatic ties and says consultations will continue. The episode reflects wider concerns about the safety of North Korean defectors, Pyongyang’s military cooperation with Moscow and the international consequences of the war in Ukraine.
Source: BBC