South Korea said Thursday it will recall its ambassador to Ukraine, sharply escalating a diplomatic row over President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's public disclosure of the secret transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul. The announcement, reported by Reuters, is the strongest move yet in a standoff that has poisoned relations between two countries once united in opposing Russian aggression.
A transfer meant to stay secret
The dispute began on September 23, when Zelenskyy disclosed during his speech at the UN General Assembly that Ukraine had transferred two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea. Seoul reacted with fury, accusing Kyiv of violating a confidentiality agreement it says was struck to protect the soldiers' families back in North Korea. Kyiv has denied that any such agreement existed.
The two soldiers were among the thousands of North Korean troops deployed to support Russia's war against Ukraine, captured on the battlefield in early 2025. They had expressed a desire to resettle in South Korea rather than be repatriated, fearing persecution at home. Seoul had agreed to accept them in mid-September, citing its legal position that the North is part of its territory and its longstanding policy of accepting and financially supporting North Korean defectors.
Seoul says apology fell short
President Lee Jae Myung has demanded an official apology, warning of unspecified punitive measures if Ukraine does not comply. South Korea's foreign minister, Cho Hyun, told parliament on Tuesday that Kyiv had sent a message containing words of apology — but that it "fell short" of what Seoul expected. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has described the episode as a "diplomatic misunderstanding" and expressed hope it would be resolved soon.
Seoul has already summoned Ukraine's ambassador and threatened "further measures." The foreign ministry did not say when Ambassador Park Hee-chang would return home, adding only that South Korea would continue consultations with Ukraine and hoped the outstanding issues would be "resolved amicably."
A second front: fuel shipments to Russia
The recall also comes days after media reports alleged that more than 176,000 metric tons of fuel, mostly diesel, was shipped from South Korea to Russia in July and August — sparking accusations that Seoul was helping alleviate Russian fuel shortages. The allegation has further strained the relationship and added domestic pressure on the Lee administration.
Stakes for Ukraine's war effort
The rift carries real costs for Kyiv. Ukraine had hoped to secure armament supplies from Seoul, but South Korea has so far not provided lethal weapons to Ukraine, citing a domestic ban on militarily aiding countries at war — a stance the dispute now makes even harder to shift.
North Korea's involvement in the war has grown increasingly costly. South Korea's spy agency estimated last year that around 2,000 North Korean troops had been killed, while a more recent assessment put the number killed or wounded at around 6,000. The two defectors at the center of the row represent a rare, high-profile break in that deployment — and Seoul is determined that their families not pay the price.
Table of Contents
- A transfer meant to stay secret
- Seoul says apology fell short
- A second front: fuel shipments to Russia
- Stakes for Ukraine's war effort
- Key takeaways
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Sources
- Related reading
Key takeaways
- South Korea announced Thursday it will recall Ambassador Park Hee-chang from Ukraine, escalating the row over Zelenskyy's public disclosure of the secret transfer of two North Korean POWs.
- Seoul says a confidentiality agreement was violated, putting the soldiers' families in North Korea at risk; Kyiv denies any such agreement existed.
- President Lee Jae Myung demanded an official apology and warned of unspecified punitive measures; an apology message from Kyiv was judged insufficient.
- The dispute is complicated by reports of 176,000 tonnes of South Korean fuel shipped to Russia in July and August.
- The rift dims Ukraine's hopes of securing arms supplies from Seoul, which already bars lethal aid to countries at war.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is South Korea recalling its ambassador to Ukraine?
Seoul accuses Kyiv of breaching a confidentiality agreement when President Zelenskyy publicly disclosed the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea during his UN General Assembly speech on September 23. South Korea says the disclosure put the soldiers' families in North Korea at risk.
Did Ukraine agree to keep the transfer secret?
This is disputed. Seoul, including President Lee Jae Myung and Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, insists a confidentiality agreement was in place — and says it was made at Kyiv's request. Ukraine denies any such agreement existed, with Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha calling the episode a "diplomatic misunderstanding."
Why do the North Korean POWs matter to Seoul?
The two soldiers, captured in early 2025, asked to resettle in South Korea rather than face repatriation, fearing persecution. South Korea legally regards the North as part of its territory and has a longstanding policy of accepting and financially supporting defectors — making their safety, and their families' safety, a domestic political priority.
How does this affect Ukraine's war effort?
Ukraine had hoped to obtain armament supplies from South Korea, but Seoul has so far refused to provide lethal weapons, citing a domestic ban on militarily aiding countries at war. The deepening row makes any shift in that position less likely.
What else is straining the relationship?
Media reports this week alleged that more than 176,000 metric tons of fuel, mostly diesel, was shipped from South Korea to Russia in July and August — sparking accusations that Seoul was helping ease Russian fuel shortages.
Sources
- Reuters — South Korea recalls ambassador to Ukraine amid dispute with Kyiv
- The Japan Times — South Korea to recall ambassador from Ukraine amid deepening row
- Channel News Asia — South Korea says to recall ambassador from Ukraine
