World · East Asia & Pacific · 1 day ago
South Korean ambassador returns home amid dispute with Ukraine over POW transfer
South Korea’s ambassador to Ukraine has returned to Seoul after his government recalled him in protest.
The dispute began when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed that Ukraine had transferred two North Korean soldiers to South Korea.
The soldiers were captured in January 2025 while fighting for Russia in the Kursk region and arrived in South Korea in mid-September.
Seoul says Kyiv agreed to keep the transfer secret to protect the soldiers and their families, who remain in North Korea.
Ukraine says there was no such agreement.
The disagreement has strained relations between South Korea and Ukraine, which have also differed over Seoul’s military support for Kyiv.
South Korea says it will continue talks with Ukraine to resolve outstanding issues.
South Korea recalled its ambassador to Ukraine on Oct. 8 amid a dispute over the disclosure of the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul.
Seoul says Ukraine broke an agreement to keep the transfer confidential, while Kyiv says no such agreement existed.
South Korea says secrecy was intended partly to protect the prisoners and their families in North Korea.
The soldiers were captured in January 2025 while fighting for Russia in the Kursk region and arrived in South Korea in mid-September 2026.
South Korea and Ukraine have said they will continue consultations, and Ukraine says it remains open to restoring constructive dialogue.
- Who
- South Korea and Ukraine. South Korea recalled its ambassador to Ukraine.
- What
- South Korea recalled its envoy amid a dispute over Ukraine’s disclosure that two North Korean prisoners of war had been transferred to Seoul.
- When
- The recall was announced on Oct. 8, 2026. The ambassador returned to South Korea on Oct. 10.
- Where
- The diplomatic dispute is between South Korea and Ukraine.
- Why
- Seoul says Kyiv breached an agreement to keep the transfer confidential; Kyiv says there was no such agreement.
South Korea
Ukraine
Confidentiality agreement
South Korea
Seoul says the two countries agreed at Ukraine’s request to keep the transfer secret.
Ukraine
Kyiv says no non-disclosure agreement existed.
Disclosure
South Korea
Seoul says the announcement put the prisoners’ families in North Korea at risk and damaged trust.
Ukraine
Ukraine has said the transfer was disclosed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and says diplomacy should prevail over emotions.
The government has decided to recall its ambassador to Ukraine
Despite Seoul’s decision to recall its ambassador, Ukraine remains open to restoring a constructive dialogue – even if it takes time
We hope that various issues between the two countries will be resolved smoothly, and we will continue consultations with the Ukrainian side to that end
Because there is some gap with the level we envisioned, we intend to take resolute measures
Zelenskyy disclosed that two North Korean soldiers had been transferred to South Korea.
South Korea’s vice foreign minister lodged a formal complaint with his Ukrainian counterpart over the disclosure.
South Korea announced it would recall its ambassador to Ukraine.
Ambassador Park Ki-chang returned to South Korea.
- Prisoners transferred
- Two North Korean soldiers
- Capture
- January 2025, in the Kursk region
- Arrival in South Korea
- Mid-September 2026
- Recall announced
- Oct. 8, 2026
- Ambassador returned
- Park Ki-chang, Oct. 10, 2026
Sources
S. Korean ambassador to Ukraine returns home amid dispute over N.K. POW disclosure
South Korea recalls ambassador from Ukraine amid N. Korea prisoners wrangle
South Korea recalls Ukraine envoy over prisoner-of-war row
South Korea recalls Ukraine ambassador in prisoner of war row
South Korea Recalls Envoy From Ukraine in Dispute Over North Korean POWs
South Korea to recall Ukraine envoy in diplomatic row over POWs
South Korea to recall its ambassador to Ukraine over North Korean POW dispute
South Korea recalls ambassador to Ukraine over soldiers' transfer
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