South Korea will withdraw some staff from its embassy in Ukraine as a diplomatic dispute deepens over Kyiv’s disclosure of the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul.
The decision, announced by Seoul’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday, Oct. 20, follows the recall of South Korea’s ambassador to Ukraine on Oct. 8 after President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed the transfer during his address to the United Nations General Assembly on Sept. 23.
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South Korea’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Park Doo-soon said the ambassador’s recall had received “no positive response from the Ukrainian side,” according to Reuters.
Citing the persistent threat of Russian airstrikes across Ukraine and the difficulty of ensuring diplomatic staff’s safety, Park said the government had decided to withdraw some embassy personnel.
Seoul said it would maintain necessary diplomatic communications through its chargé d’affaires and keep consular staff in Ukraine to protect South Korean nationals.
The dispute began after Zelensky announced that Ukraine had transferred two North Korean soldiers captured while fighting for Russia to South Korea. Seoul said the disclosure violated a confidentiality agreement intended to protect the prisoners and their families in North Korea.
South Korea subsequently demanded an official explanation and apology from Kyiv, arguing that the public announcement could put the soldiers’ relatives at risk.
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South Korean President Lee Jae Myung later warned of “further measures” if Ukraine did not apologize.
Seoul also summoned Ukraine’s acting ambassador and said Kyiv’s response had failed to address its concerns.
Ukraine has disputed Seoul’s account of the confidentiality arrangement, saying South Korea had been informed in advance that Zelensky intended to mention the transfer in his UN speech. Kyiv has argued that the president did not disclose the soldiers’ identities or sensitive operational details.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha sent Seoul a message that included an apology, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said earlier this month, but it fell short of Seoul’s expectations.
Cho said South Korea was considering diplomatic measures, including recalling its ambassador, a move Seoul subsequently confirmed on Oct. 8.
Ukraine has insisted that “diplomacy must prevail over emotions” and said it considers the situation resolved.
The dispute comes as South Korea and Ukraine maintain ties amid Russia’s full-scale invasion and growing military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang.
North Korea has supplied Russia with ammunition and deployed troops to support its war against Ukraine, while Seoul has provided Kyiv with financial and humanitarian assistance.
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