South Korea said it will recall its ambassador to Ukraine after President Zelensky disclosed the transfer of two captured North Korean soldiers. Kyiv says there was no secrecy agreement.
South Korea's foreign ministry said on Thursday it had decided to recall its ambassador to Ukraine. The dispute is over President Volodymyr Zelensky's disclosure that two captured North Korean soldiers had been transferred to Seoul. Seoul says Ukraine broke an agreement to keep the transfer confidential. Zelensky's office says there was no non-disclosure agreement.
Yonhap reported that the two soldiers were captured in January 2025 while fighting for Russia in the Kursk region and arrived in South Korea in mid-September. Zelensky disclosed the transfer in an address to the U.N. General Assembly last month.
Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo lodged a formal complaint in September. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said this week that he had received an apology from his Ukrainian counterpart that fell short of Seoul's expectations, the BBC reported, citing local reports.
Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said on Thursday that diplomacy should prevail over emotions. He said Ukraine remains open to restoring a constructive dialogue even if it takes time.
The ministry said it hopes the issues will be resolved and that consultations will continue. It did not give a date for the ambassador's return to Kyiv.
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- South Korea's foreign ministry said it hopes the issues will be resolved through continued consultations.
- Heorhii Tykhyi said diplomacy should prevail over emotions and that Ukraine remains open to dialogue.