Seoul said it will recall its ambassador to Ukraine after accusing Kyiv of disclosing a transfer of two captured North Korean soldiers that South Korea wanted kept quiet.
South Korea said on Thursday it will recall its ambassador to Ukraine, escalating a dispute that began when President Volodymyr Zelensky said his government had transferred two captured North Korean soldiers to Seoul. BBC reported that Seoul says Ukraine broke an agreement to keep the transfer secret, while Zelensky's office says there was no non-disclosure agreement.
The soldiers were among North Korean troops supporting Russia and had told local media they wanted to go to South Korea, the BBC said. Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo lodged a formal complaint in September with Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Vieshkin. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said an apology from his Ukrainian counterpart earlier this week fell short of Seoul's expectations.
Politico quoted a South Korean ministry statement saying the government hopes pending issues will be resolved smoothly and that consultations will continue. On 24 September, President Lee Jae-myung accused Ukraine of breaching a confidentiality agreement on what he called a highly sensitive issue. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha later called it a diplomatic misunderstanding, Politico reported.
Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said on Thursday that diplomacy should prevail over emotions, and that Ukraine remains open to restoring a constructive dialogue even if it takes time, the BBC reported.
The recall is a diplomatic step, not a break in relations. Neither side's account of whether a secrecy agreement existed has been independently published as a document in these reports.
People Sentiments Negative
- Lee Jae-myung said the disclosure of the transfer may cause many problems.
- Heorhii Tykhyi said diplomacy should prevail over emotions and that Ukraine remains open to dialogue.
- Cho Hyun said a Ukrainian apology fell short of Seoul's expectations.