South Korea recalls ambassador from Ukraine over POW disclosure row

· Politics · South Korea · Ukraine

South Korea decided to recall its ambassador to Ukraine in an unusually strong diplomatic move amid mounting friction over Kyiv's disclosure that two North Korean prisoners of war were transferred to Seoul. The Foreign Ministry announced the decision, saying it had demanded but not received an apology. Ukraine's president had told the UN in September that Ukraine had sent North Korean POWs to South Korea. The dispute has deepened tensions between Seoul and Kyiv, which had been cooperating on issues related to North Korean involvement in the war.

Why it matters：The rare recall signals a breakdown in coordination between two US-aligned partners over handling North Korean prisoners, with implications for wartime diplomacy.

Key points

  • South Korea will recall its ambassador to Ukraine.
  • The row stems from Kyiv's disclosure of transferring North Korean POWs.
  • Seoul said it demanded but did not receive an apology.

Sources (original reporting)

More stories from this day