South Korea recalls Ukraine’s envoy amid prisoner‑of‑war dispute

South Korea will recall its ambassador to Ukraine, following a diplomatic clash over the transfer of two North Korean soldiers from Russia to South Korea.

The dispute ignited last month when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that his government had handed two captured North Korean soldiers to Seoul. Seoul claims Ukraine breached an agreement to keep the exchange confidential, while Kyiv insists no non‑disclosure agreement existed.

The two soldiers, among thousands of North Koreans supporting Russia, had expressed a desire to be sent to South Korea. South Korea’s Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon‑joo lodged a formal complaint with his Ukrainian counterpart in September, and on Thursday, Seoul’s Foreign Ministry pledged to continue consultations, hoping outstanding issues will resolve smoothly.

Zelensky’s revelation at the UN General Assembly prompted swift condemnation from South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, who called the transfer “highly sensitive” and warned it could damage national security. The Latin‑American and Asian communities expressed concern that the move could signal a covert partnership with Pyongyang, however South Korean officials said the secrecy was intended to protect families and to avoid criticism of turning over Ukrainian prisoners of war.

South Korea has been a stalwart supporter of Ukraine since Russia’s full‑scale invasion, providing non‑lethal aid and a $100 million assistance package in July. Nonetheless, Seoul maintains its longstanding policy of refusing to supply lethal weapons to any country engaged in active conflict. Russia has warned it would retaliate if South Korea supplied arms to Kyiv, a threat yet to be clarified.

While South Korea pursues balanced relations with both Moscow and Beijing, that balance is now under strain as diplomatic lines over the North Korean soldiers widen. The recall signals a potential shift in Seoul’s stance toward Ukraine amid growing geopolitical pressures.