MWE Correspondent
South Korea is considering recalling its ambassador to Ukraine after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly disclosed the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea, escalating a diplomatic dispute between Seoul and Kyiv.
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun told lawmakers on Tuesday that Ukraine had sent Seoul a message containing an apology over the disclosure, but said it fell short of what South Korea expected. He said Seoul was considering “firm measures,” including the possible recall of Ambassador Park Hee-chang from Kyiv.
The dispute began after Zelenskyy revealed during his September 23 address to the United Nations General Assembly that Ukraine had transferred two North Korean soldiers captured while fighting alongside Russian forces to South Korea.
Seoul says the transfer had been kept confidential because of concerns for the safety of the soldiers and their families, who remain in North Korea. South Korean officials maintain that both governments had agreed from the beginning not to disclose the operation publicly. Ukraine, however, has disputed Seoul’s characterization of the arrangement, describing the issue as a diplomatic misunderstanding.
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South Korea’s National Intelligence Service has said Ukraine initially requested that the transfer remain secret. The two soldiers arrived in South Korea in mid-September after being captured in Russia’s Kursk region in January 2025.
The soldiers were among North Korean personnel deployed to Russia to support Moscow’s war against Ukraine. Their capture was significant because they were among the first North Korean troops involved in the conflict to be captured alive.
Following Zelenskyy’s disclosure, Seoul summoned Ukraine’s acting ambassador and demanded an official explanation and apology, warning that the issue could damage trust between the two countries.
Ukraine has since sought to ease tensions. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the issue should be resolved quickly and described it as a “diplomatic misunderstanding,” while emphasizing the importance of South Korea to Ukraine.
The dispute comes as South Korea continues to balance its support for Ukraine with efforts to manage tensions with North Korea. Seoul has also been closely monitoring North Korea’s military cooperation with Russia, including the deployment of North Korean troops to support Russian forces.
For now, South Korea says it remains in communication with Kyiv, but Cho’s warning that Seoul could take firm measures signals that the disagreement over the prisoners’ transfer has developed into a significant diplomatic issue.
The possible ambassador recall would represent a further escalation in relations between two countries that have maintained cooperation over Russia’s war in Ukraine.
