South Korea recalls ambassador from Ukraine amid dispute over North Korean prisoners
In short
South Korea has decided to recall its ambassador to Ukraine, Pak Ki-chan (Пак Ки-чан), the South Korean foreign ministry said on 8 October, adding that it expects outstanding issues to be settled quickly and will keep consulting Kyiv. Russian outlets linked the move to a row that began when President Volodymyr Zelensky told the UN General Assembly that Ukraine had handed two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea, which Seoul says broke a confidentiality arrangement.
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South Korea has decided to recall its ambassador to Ukraine, Pak Ki-chan (Пак Ки-чан), the South Korean foreign ministry said on 8 October; Interfax and Vedomosti cited the Yonhap news agency. "The government has decided to recall the ambassador from Ukraine home. The government expects the swift settlement of all outstanding issues between the two countries and will continue consultations with the Ukrainian side to that end," the ministry said, as quoted by Kommersant. Kommersant noted that the statement gave no reasons for the decision. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
The outlets linked the recall to a dispute that began when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told the UN General Assembly that Ukraine had handed two captured North Korean soldiers over to South Korea. Kommersant dated the speech to 23 September. According to Vedomosti, Ukrainian forces captured the two in January 2025 during fighting in the Kursk region, and they arrived in South Korea in mid-September 2026. Interfax reported, citing media, that the two sides had initially agreed not to comment on the matter publicly. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
Seoul said Kyiv had broken the confidentiality arrangement. President Lee Jae-myung accused Kyiv of violating agreements and disclosing confidential information, RIA Novosti reported. On 2 October, according to Vedomosti, he said South Korea would take additional measures unless Kyiv acknowledged the existence of a non-disclosure agreement on the transfer and issued an official apology, and stressed that Ukraine itself had asked for confidentiality. Interfax reported that South Korea had demanded an official apology and explanations from Ukraine. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
Kommersant reported that Ukraine at first denied that any agreement existed, but its foreign ministry later called the episode a "diplomatic misunderstanding" and expressed hope that the dispute would be settled. Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesman Heorhii Tykhyi (Георгий Тихий) said the misunderstanding arose from "differences in interpreting the confidentiality regime", RIA Novosti reported. [ 2 , 4 ]
South Korea's foreign minister then said the apology Kyiv had conveyed did not meet Seoul's expectations. The outlets differ on the details: Vedomosti named the minister as Cho Hyun (Чо Хен) and dated his statement to 6 October, while RIA Novosti named him as Cho Tae-yul (Чо Тхэ Ель) and said he spoke on Tuesday. [ 2 , 4 , 5 ]
Why it matters
Recalling an ambassador is a formal diplomatic step that marks a downturn in relations between Seoul and Kyiv. The ministry's statement leaves room for consultations, but Seoul has said Ukraine's apology so far fell short of its expectations.
Key facts
- South Korea's government decided to recall its ambassador from Ukraine, the South Korean foreign ministry said. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- Vedomosti named the ambassador as Pak Ki-chan (Пак Ки-чан). [ 5 ]
- The ministry said it expects all outstanding issues between the two countries to be settled quickly and will continue consultations with the Ukrainian side. [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The dispute followed Volodymyr Zelensky's statement at the UN General Assembly that Ukraine had transferred two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea; Kommersant dates the speech to 23 September. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- Seoul said Kyiv had broken an agreement to keep the transfer confidential. [ 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- On 2 October President Lee Jae-myung said South Korea would take additional measures unless Kyiv acknowledged the non-disclosure agreement and apologised officially. [ 5 ]
- South Korea's foreign minister said the apology received from Ukraine did not meet Seoul's expectations. [ 2 , 4 , 5 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- South Korea decided to recall its ambassador from Ukraine, according to the South Korean foreign ministry. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- The ministry said it expects outstanding issues between the two countries to be resolved and will continue consultations with Ukraine. [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Zelensky said at the UN General Assembly that Ukraine had transferred two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- Seoul considered the apology it received from Kyiv insufficient. [ 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- President Lee Jae-myung threatened additional measures if Ukraine did not apologise. [ 2 , 5 ]
Still unclear
- The name of the South Korean foreign minister who called Kyiv's apology inadequate. Vedomosti names him Cho Hyun (Чо Хен); RIA Novosti names him Cho Tae-yul (Чо Тхэ Ель).
- Whether the ministry's announcement itself gave the prisoner dispute as the reason for the recall. Kommersant says the statement gave no reasons; other outlets link the recall to the dispute.
- How long the ambassador will stay away from Kyiv and how Ukraine has responded to the recall. None of the documents report this.
- That Ukraine initially denied any confidentiality agreement existed. Reported only by Kommersant.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- RBC and RIA Novosti report that South Korea is recalling its ambassador from Ukraine. [ 1 , 2 ]
- TASS reports the recall and Seoul's hope that bilateral problems will be resolved. [ 3 ]
- Kommersant quotes the foreign ministry statement and notes it gives no reasons. [ 4 ]
- Vedomosti names the ambassador as Pak Ki-chan and quotes the ministry via Yonhap. [ 5 ]
- Interfax reports the recall citing Yonhap and the foreign ministry. [ 6 ]