In brief
South Korea has announced it will recall its ambassador to Ukraine after a dispute over the transfer of two North Korean soldiers. Seoul says Ukraine violated a confidentiality agreement, while Kyiv denies such an agreement existed. The spat escalated with calls for formal apologies and renewed talks on unresolved issues. The move signals a sharp uptick in tensions as both sides reassess their diplomatic and security commitments.
South Korea has announced it will recall its ambassador to Ukraine following a diplomatic row sparked by the transfer of two North Korean soldiers to Seoul.
The dispute began after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed that his government had handed the soldiers over to South Korea, a move Seoul says breached a confidentiality agreement. Kyiv, however, maintains that no such non‑disclosure pact was in place and that the transfer was carried out under agreed terms.
South Korean officials have lodged formal complaints and demanded an apology for what they call a “falsehood” that damaged trust. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun reported that he received an apology, but it was deemed insufficient; Ukraine’s spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi disputed that a minister had offered any apology.
The incident follows broader tensions, as South Korea has supported Ukraine with non‑lethal aid while resisting requests for lethal arms, a policy that has drawn criticism from both sides. Seoul’s recall of its ambassador is the latest escalation in an already strained diplomatic relationship, amid ongoing discussions about unresolved issues and potential security implications.
