South Korea recalls ambassador to Ukraine amid dispute over North Korean POW transfer
In short
South Korea said on Thursday it will recall its ambassador to Ukraine, Park Hee-chang, stepping up its protest against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's revelation of the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea, the Associated Press reported. South Korea accuses Ukraine of violating a nondisclosure agreement on the transfer, while Kyiv has denied agreeing to such a deal. South Korea has also denied a Ukrainian report that South Korean exports eased Russia's fuel crisis.
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South Korea said on Thursday it will recall its ambassador to Ukraine, Park Hee-chang, stepping up its protest against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's revelation of the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea, the Associated Press reported. The Foreign Ministry did not say when the ambassador will be brought back home. A ministry statement said South Korea will continue consultations with Ukraine and hopes the dispute between the two countries will be resolved smoothly. Reuters and NPR also reported the recall. [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
The announcement came days after South Korean President Lee Jae Myung threatened unspecified punitive steps if Ukraine refuses to apologize over the revelation. The two countries became embroiled in a diplomatic row after Zelenskyy spoke about the transfer during his U.N. speech on Sept. 23. South Korea has accused Ukraine of violating a nondisclosure agreement on the transfer, but Kyiv has denied agreeing to such a deal. [ 6 , 7 , 8 ]
According to the Associated Press, the soldiers were among thousands of North Korean troops deployed to support Russia's war against Ukraine. Since their capture in early 2025, they had expressed a wish to resettle in South Korea because they could face persecution if repatriated. South Korea had said it would accept them, because it legally regards the North as part of its territory and has a policy of accepting and financially supporting North Korean defectors. South Korean officials said the nondisclosure agreement was made because of concern for the safety of the soldiers and their relatives in the North, while many experts say the government likely also worries that disclosure of their arrival may hurt its efforts to improve ties with North Korea. North Korea's state media has not commented on the transfer. [ 6 , 7 ]
In a separate dispute, Ukraine said South Korean exports eased a Russian fuel crisis caused by drone strikes, Reuters reported on Oct. 6. South Korea denied the Ukrainian report, and Bloomberg reported that it urged Ukraine to stop making what it called "incorrect and inappropriate" allegations that South Korea was undermining sanctions against Moscow by helping alleviate Russia's fuel shortages. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The recall steps up South Korea's protest against Ukraine and follows President Lee Jae Myung's threat of unspecified punitive steps if Ukraine does not apologize. It comes alongside a second dispute in which South Korea called Ukrainian allegations that it helped alleviate Russia's fuel shortages incorrect and inappropriate.
Key facts
- South Korea said it will recall its ambassador to Ukraine. [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- The ambassador is Park Hee-chang; the Foreign Ministry did not say when he will be brought back home. [ 6 , 7 ]
- The recall protests Zelenskyy's revelation, in his U.N. speech on Sept. 23, of the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea. [ 6 , 7 ]
- South Korea accuses Ukraine of violating a nondisclosure agreement on the transfer; Kyiv has denied agreeing to such a deal. [ 6 , 7 ]
- President Lee Jae Myung had threatened unspecified punitive steps if Ukraine refuses to apologize over the revelation. [ 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- A Foreign Ministry statement said South Korea will continue consultations with Ukraine and hopes the dispute will be resolved smoothly. [ 6 , 7 ]
- Ukraine said South Korean exports eased a Russian fuel crisis caused by drone strikes. [ 1 ]
- South Korea denied the Ukrainian report and urged Ukraine to stop making what it called "incorrect and inappropriate" allegations that it was undermining sanctions against Moscow. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- When the ambassador will return to South Korea. The Foreign Ministry did not say when he will be brought back home.
- Whether Ukraine agreed to keep the transfer secret. South Korea says Ukraine violated a nondisclosure agreement; Kyiv has denied agreeing to such a deal.
- What punitive steps President Lee had in mind. The documents describe the threatened steps only as unspecified.
- Whether the dispute over fuel exports to Russia played any part in the recall. The Associated Press ties the recall to the prisoner transfer; Reuters reports it amid a dispute with Kyiv without detail, and no document links the fuel claims to the recall.
- Whether South Korea's government also wanted secrecy to protect efforts to improve ties with North Korea. This is the view of experts cited by the Associated Press; South Korean officials cited the safety of the soldiers and their relatives.
- President Lee Jae Myung threatened unspecified punitive steps if Ukraine refuses to apologize over the revelation. Reported by a single source so far
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Oct. 6: Reuters reports Ukraine says South Korean exports eased a Russian fuel crisis caused by drone strikes. [ 1 ]
- Oct. 7: Reuters reports South Korea denies the Ukrainian report. [ 2 ]
- Oct. 7: Bloomberg reports South Korea urged Ukraine to stop making "incorrect and inappropriate" allegations. [ 4 ]
- Oct. 8: Reuters reports South Korea recalls its ambassador to Ukraine amid a dispute with Kyiv. [ 5 ]
- Oct. 8: The Associated Press reports the recall is over Zelenskyy's revelation of the North Korean prisoners' transfer. [ 6 ]