South Korea recalls Ukraine envoy over North Korean POW disclosure — SkimNews
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- South Korea announced it is recalling its ambassador to Ukraine, the latest escalation in a diplomatic spat triggered by President Zelensky's public revelation that Kyiv transferred two captured North Korean soldiers to Seoul.
- Seoul claims Ukraine broke an agreement to keep the transfer confidential, while Zelensky's office maintains no non-disclosure agreement existed; South Korean Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo lodged a formal complaint with Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Vieshkin in September.
- Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said earlier this week he received an apology from his Ukrainian counterpart but described it as falling short of Seoul's expectations, prompting the recall decision.
- Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi responded that "diplomacy should prevail over emotions" and said Ukraine remains open to "restoring a constructive dialogue" despite Seoul's move.
- Zelensky revealed the transfer during a September UN General Assembly speech, saying the two North Koreans — captured from among troops supporting Russia — had not been "easy to capture alive" and had expressed wanting to go to South Korea.
- President Lee Jae Myung called the disclosure "greatly disappointing" and a threat to national security, facing domestic opposition accusations that he sought to cover up the transfer to appease Pyongyang.
- Russia's foreign ministry has separately warned it would have "no choice but to retaliate" if South Korea provided Ukraine with arms, a pressure point as Kyiv has pushed Seoul for anti-air missiles since North Korean troops deployed to support Russia in 2024.
Why it matters: The recall deepens a rift between two nations aligned against Russia's invasion and comes as Kyiv actively lobbies Seoul for cutting-edge anti-air missiles to defend its energy grid. Seoul's longstanding refusal to provide lethal weapons — reinforced by Russia's retaliation threat — means Ukraine's hope of expanding South Korean military aid now collides with a damaged bilateral relationship at the worst possible time.
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