Experts caution against escalation between Korea, Ukraine

South Korea is considering firm measures, including recalling its ambassador to Ukraine, after judging Kyiv’s apology over the disclosure of two North Korean prisoners of war as inadequate. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said Tuesday that Ukraine’s message included an apology but fell short of Seoul’s expectations. Seoul says the transfer was covered by a confidentiality agreement, while Kyiv denies one existed. Experts warn escalation could damage ties with Ukraine and Europe.

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said recalling Ambassador Park Hee-chang was among the options under consideration.

The South Korean Foreign Ministry said Ukraine needed to explain and apologize for disclosing the transfer and for making what Seoul called false statements denying a confidentiality agreement.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the transfer during a United Nations General Assembly speech on Sept. 23.

South Korea says it has provided financial and humanitarian aid to Ukraine and joined anti-Russia sanctions, although it does not provide lethal weapons.

Experts Ban Kil-joo and Park Won-gon urged Seoul to control the dispute at the foreign ministry level and avoid escalation that could strain relations with European allies.

Published Oct 7, 2026 3:15 pm KST

Updated Oct 7, 2026 4:15 pm KST

Taking tougher action on Kyiv could cost Seoul with European allies

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, right, shakes hands with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha ahead of their talks at the foreign ministry building in Seoul, June 30. Newsis

South Korea is weighing its next move against Ukraine — including a potential recall of its ambassador to Ukraine — after deeming Kyiv's apology over the public disclosure of a North Korean prisoner of war transfer "insufficient," even as experts urge Seoul to de-escalate, warning that a deepening rift could damage long-term ties with Europe.

South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Hyun signaled the hardening stance Tuesday, speaking during a parliamentary audit that Ukraine's foreign minister had sent a message that "included words of apology" but fell short of what Seoul had expected.

"We intend to take firm measures," Cho said, adding that recalling ambassador Park Hee-chang was among the options under consideration.

The foreign ministry formalized that position Wednesday, saying Seoul had urged Kyiv to provide a "clear explanation and apology" for disclosing the transfer and for issuing what it called "false statements" denying the existence of a confidentiality agreement.

"While Ukraine subsequently presented its position, South Korea considers that the response fell short of an adequate apology," the ministry said Wednesday, adding that it is coordinating closely with the presidential National Security Office. The ministry is currently fine-tuning the level of its response.

The standoff stems from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's announcement during a United Nations General Assembly speech on Sept. 23 that two North Korean prisoners of war had been transferred to South Korea. Seoul, including President Lee Jae Myung, says the two countries agreed to keep the transfer confidential at Kyiv's request, while Kyiv denies any such agreement existed.

A South Korean diplomat said the breach of a diplomatic nondisclosure agreement of this nature is effectively without precedent. "It is hard to find a similar case," the diplomat said.

The Ukrainian government did not respond to The Korea Times’s inquiry into the matter.

A screenshot from MBC’s investigative program "PD Note" shows two North Korean soldiers captured as prisoners of war in Ukraine. Screenshot from MBC's "PD Note"

Experts broadly cautioned against escalation, warning that pushing the dispute further could backfire on Seoul's overarching foreign policy goals, strain ties with European allies and inadvertently hand strategic leverage to Russia.

Ban Kil-joo, a professor at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy, said Seoul's best strategy is to give Ukraine time to deliver a more satisfactory apology while controlling the pace of the standoff.

"It is a strategy centered on controlling the timeline and setting the pace,” Ban said, adding that it would minimize risks and help preserve bilateral ties.

He cautioned against canceling aid packages to Ukraine.

"Although South Korea does not provide lethal weapons, it has provided financial and humanitarian aid to Ukraine and joined anti-Russia sanctions since the Russia-Ukraine war broke out. While cancelling these aid packages could be a powerful bargaining chip, it would strain ties not only with Ukraine but also with Europe, undercutting Korea's diplomatic consistency," he said.

"For Seoul, which pursues 'global pivotal state' status and 'G7+' diplomacy, alienating key like-minded security partners makes reaching its foreign policy goals difficult. It offers leverage, but carries significant risk."

On the specific option of recalling the ambassador, Ban warned that Moscow could seek to exploit it.

"Russia could see South Korea recall its ambassador — despite Seoul's past assistance to Kyiv — as a blueprint to encourage other pro-Ukraine nations to roll back their support," he noted.

Park Won-gon, a professor of North Korean studies at Ewha Womans University, urged Seoul to keep the dispute contained at the foreign ministry level rather than allowing it to escalate to the presidential level.

“If the South Korean government wants to get an apology, it should keep the dispute at the foreign ministry level, not through the mouth of the South Korean president. Escalating tensions to the presidential level between Lee and Zelenskyy risks broader fallout. Straining relations with Kyiv could ultimately sour South Korea’s relations with European allies countering Russia,” Park said.

韩国认为基辅方面就两名朝鲜战俘被泄露一事所作的道歉不够充分，正考虑采取包括召回驻乌克兰大使在内的强硬措施。韩国外长赵显铉周二表示，乌克兰方面虽然表达了歉意，但并未达到首尔的预期。首尔方面称，此次战俘移交受保密协议约束，而基辅方面则否认存在此类协议。专家警告称，事态升级可能损害韩国与乌克兰以及欧洲的关系。

外交部长赵显铉表示，召回驻韩美使朴熙昌是正在考虑的选项之一。

韩国外交部表示，乌克兰需要就泄露资金转移一事以及首尔方面所称的否认保密协议的虚假声明作出解释和道歉。

乌克兰总统泽连斯基在9月23日联合国大会的演讲中宣布了这一移交决定。

韩国表示已向乌克兰提供财政和人道主义援助，并加入了对俄制裁，但并未提供致命武器。

专家潘吉柱和朴元坤敦促首尔在外交部层面控制争端，避免事态升级，以免与欧洲盟友关系紧张。

发布于2026年10月7日下午3:15（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年10月7日下午4:15（韩国标准时间）

对基辅采取更强硬的行动可能会让首尔失去欧洲盟友的支持。

6月30日，韩国外交部长赵显铉（右）在首尔外交部大楼与乌克兰外长安德烈·西比哈举行会谈前握手。（Newsis）

韩国正在权衡下一步对乌克兰的行动，包括可能召回其驻乌克兰大使。此前，韩国认为基辅就朝鲜战俘移交事件公开道歉“不够”，尽管专家敦促首尔缓和局势，并警告称，裂痕加深可能会损害与欧洲的长期关系。

韩国外交部长赵显铉周二在议会听证会上发表讲话，暗示韩国的立场趋于强硬。他表示，乌克兰外长发来的信息“包含道歉的措辞”，但远未达到首尔的预期。

“我们打算采取坚决措施，”赵说，并补充说，召回大使朴熙昌是正在考虑的选项之一。

外交部周三正式表明了这一立场，称首尔已敦促基辅就披露资金转移一事以及发表否认存在保密协议的“虚假声明”作出“明确的解释和道歉”。

韩国外交部周三表示：“尽管乌克兰随后阐述了其立场，但韩国认为其回应远未达到道歉的程度。”该部还补充说，正与总统国家安全室密切协调。目前，韩国外交部正在调整其回应的力度。

这场僵局源于乌克兰总统泽连斯基9月23日在联合国大会上的讲话，他宣布两名朝鲜战俘已被移交给韩国。首尔方面，包括韩国总统李在明在内，表示两国应基辅的要求同意对此次移交保密，而基辅方面则否认存在任何此类协议。

一位韩国外交官表示，这种性质的外交保密协议违约事件实际上史无前例。“很难找到类似的案例，”这位外交官说。

乌克兰政府没有回应《韩国时报》对此事的询问。

MBC调查节目《PD Note》的一张截图显示，两名朝鲜士兵在乌克兰被俘。截图来自MBC《PD Note》节目。

专家们普遍告诫不要让局势升级，警告说，进一步推进争端可能会对首尔的总体外交政策目标产生反作用，使与欧洲盟友的关系紧张，并无意中将战略优势拱手让给俄罗斯。

韩国国立外交学院教授潘吉柱表示，首尔最好的策略是给乌克兰时间做出更令人满意的道歉，同时控制对峙的节奏。

潘基文表示：“这是一项以控制时间表和设定节奏为中心的战略”，并补充说，这将最大限度地降低风险，并有助于维护双边关系。

他警告不要取消对乌克兰的援助计划。

“尽管韩国不提供致命武器，但自俄乌战争爆发以来，韩国一直向乌克兰提供财政和人道主义援助，并加入了对俄制裁。取消这些援助计划虽然可能成为强有力的谈判筹码，但不仅会损害与乌克兰的关系，还会损害与欧洲的关系，从而削弱韩国的外交一致性，”他说道。

“对于追求‘全球关键国家’地位和‘七国集团+’外交的首尔而言，疏远关键的志同道合的安全伙伴会使其难以实现外交政策目标。这虽然能带来筹码，但也蕴含着巨大的风险。”

关于召回大使的具体选项，潘基文警告说，莫斯科可能会试图利用这一选项。

他指出：“尽管首尔过去曾向基辅提供援助，但韩国召回其大使一事，可能会被俄罗斯视为鼓励其他亲乌克兰国家撤回支持的蓝图。”

梨花女子大学朝鲜研究教授朴元坤敦促首尔将争端控制在外交部层面，不要让争端升级到总统层面。

“如果韩国政府想要得到道歉，就应该将争端控制在外交部层面，而不是通过韩国总统的口吻。将李明博和泽连斯基之间的紧张关系升级到总统层面，可能会造成更广泛的后果。与基辅关系紧张最终可能会恶化韩国与欧洲盟友对抗俄罗斯的关系，”朴槿惠说。