South Korea recalls ambassador to Ukraine over disclosure of North Korean POWs

South Korea recalled its ambassador to Ukraine after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed that two North Korean prisoners of war had been transferred to South Korea.

Ukraine captured the two soldiers in 2025.

Seoul says the disclosure caught it off guard and that the information had been meant to remain confidential to protect the prisoners and their families in North Korea.

Ukraine has denied that the two countries had agreed to keep the information private, and its apologies have not satisfied South Korea.

The dispute is sensitive because North Korea now describes South Korea as a hostile state, and Seoul and Kyiv have cooperated during Russia’s war against Ukraine.

South Korea has provided Ukraine with humanitarian aid, reconstruction support and non-lethal equipment, and announced a further $100 million in assistance in July.

Both countries have indicated they are willing to continue talks, and Seoul says it will consult with Ukraine.