Korea decides to recall ambassador to Ukraine over NK POW dispute

The South Korean government will recall its ambassador to Ukraine in Seoul amid a dispute over Kyiv’s disclosure of two North Korean prisoners of war transferred to South Korea. The dispute began after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed the transfer during a U.N. General Assembly speech in New York on Sept. 23. Seoul says Ukraine breached a confidentiality agreement, while Kyiv denies that such an agreement existed. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said Ukraine’s apology fell short of Seoul’s expectations.

The two North Korean soldiers were captured while fighting for Russia in Ukraine in 2025.

President Lee Jae Myung expressed disappointment on X the day after Zelenskyy disclosed the transfer and said Ukraine had breached an agreement to keep it confidential.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called the dispute a diplomatic misunderstanding on Oct. 1 and expressed hope for a swift resolution.

The Ukrainian ambassador’s post in Korea has been vacant since September 2025.

Published Oct 8, 2026 5:33 pm KST

Updated Oct 8, 2026 6:39 pm KST

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivers a speech during the 81st session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York, Sept. 23. Yonhap

The government said Thursday it will recall its ambassador to Ukraine — one of the options it had been considering amid a dispute between President Lee Jae Myung and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over the disclosure of the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) to South Korea.

“The government hopes that all outstanding issues between the two countries will be resolved amicably and will continue consultations with Ukraine to that end,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement announcing its decision to recall Ambassador Park Ki-chang.

The decision came after more than two weeks of diplomatic friction, triggered by Zelenskyy’s public disclosure of the transfer during a U.N. General Assembly speech in New York on Sept. 23. The North Korean soldiers were captured while fighting for Russia in Ukraine in 2025.

Lee expressed disappointment on X (formerly Twitter) the following day, saying Ukraine had breached an agreement to keep the transfer confidential.

Kyiv denied that such an agreement existed, prompting Cheong Wa Dae to demand an explanation and apology on Sept. 27.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described the row as a diplomatic misunderstanding on Oct. 1 and expressed hope for a swift resolution.

President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, Sept. 29. Yonhap

Lee responded by warning of further measures if Ukraine continued refusing to acknowledge the confidentiality agreement and offer a public apology.

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun told lawmakers, Tuesday, that he had received a message containing an apology from his Ukrainian counterpart, but said it fell short of Seoul’s expectations.

He said the government was considering firm measures, including recalling its ambassador.

According to a source, it remains unclear whether Ukraine has been notified of the recall decision or whether Kyiv might recall its charge d’affaires in Seoul in response. The Ukrainian ambassador’s post in Korea has been vacant since September 2025.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Embassy in Seoul could not be reached for comment.

韩国政府将召回驻乌克兰大使，原因是基辅方面披露了两名朝鲜战俘被移送至韩国的消息，双方因此产生争端。这场争端始于9月23日乌克兰总统泽连斯基在纽约联合国大会上发表讲话时披露了这一消息。首尔方面称乌克兰违反了保密协议，而基辅方面则否认存在此类协议。韩国外长赵显铉表示，乌克兰的道歉未能达到首尔的预期。

2025年，两名朝鲜士兵在乌克兰为俄罗斯作战时被俘。

在泽连斯基披露这笔转账的第二天，李在明总统对X表示失望，并称乌克兰违反了保密协议。

乌克兰外交部长安德烈·西比哈于10月1日称这场争端是一场外交误会，并表示希望能够迅速解决。

自2025年9月以来，乌克兰驻韩国大使职位一直空缺。

发布于2026年10月8日下午5:33（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年10月8日韩国时间下午6:39

9月23日，乌克兰总统泽连斯基在纽约举行的联合国大会第81届会议上发表讲话。（韩联社）

韩国政府周四表示，将召回其驻乌克兰大使——这是韩国一直在考虑的选项之一，此前韩国总统李在明和乌克兰总统泽连斯基就两名朝鲜战俘移交给韩国一事发生争执。

外交部在一份宣布召回朴基昌大使的声明中表示：“政府希望两国之间所有悬而未决的问题都能友好解决，并将继续为此与乌克兰进行磋商。”

经过两周多的外交摩擦，最终做出了这项决定。摩擦的导火索是泽连斯基9月23日在纽约联合国大会上公开宣布了这一移交行动。这些朝鲜士兵于2025年在乌克兰为俄罗斯作战时被俘。

第二天，李在 X（前身为 Twitter）上表达了失望之情，称乌克兰违反了保密转账的协议。

基辅方面否认存在这样的协议，促使青瓦台于9月27日要求基辅方面做出解释和道歉。

乌克兰外交部长安德烈·西比哈于10月1日将这场争端描述为外交误会，并表示希望迅速解决。

9月29日，韩国总统李在明在首尔青瓦台主持召开内阁会议并发表讲话。（韩联社）

李回应称，如果乌克兰继续拒绝承认保密协议并公开道歉，美国将采取进一步措施。

韩国外交部长赵显铉周二告诉国会议员，他已收到乌克兰外长发来的道歉信息，但表示该信息未能达到首尔的预期。

他说，政府正在考虑采取强硬措施，包括召回大使。

据消息人士透露，目前尚不清楚乌克兰是否已被告知召回决定，也不清楚基辅是否会因此召回其驻首尔临时代办。乌克兰驻韩国大使一职自2025年9月起一直空缺。

与此同时，记者未能联系到乌克兰驻首尔大使馆置评。