[ED] Seoul, Kyiv should resolve spat

South Korea recalled its ambassador to Ukraine Saturday after Kyiv disclosed that two North Korean prisoners of war captured in 2025 had been transferred to South Korea. Seoul said the disclosure violated an understanding to keep the matter confidential to protect the prisoners and their families, while Ukraine’s apologies failed to meet its demands. Both countries have signaled willingness to continue dialogue, and restoring trust would support their broader cooperation.

South Korea last recalled an ambassador in 2008, when it took the step against Japan over the Dokdo islet issue.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed the POW transfer during a speech at the United Nations, and Ukraine subsequently denied that a confidentiality agreement existed.

South Korea has provided Ukraine with humanitarian assistance, reconstruction support and non-lethal equipment, and announced an additional $100 million in assistance in July.

Ukraine’s foreign ministry said it had invited the South Korean ambassador in Kyiv to explain Ukraine’s position and urged diplomacy over emotions.

Published Oct 11, 2026 2:33 pm KST

Updated Oct 11, 2026 5:47 pm KST

Dialogue needed following ambassador recall, for South Korea's national interest

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks at the U.N. General Assembly 81st session General Debate at the United Nations headquarters in New York City, Sept. 23. Zelenskyy unexpectedly disclosed in his speech that two North Korean prisoners of war captured in Ukraine had been sent to South Korea. UPI-Yonhap

South Korea's ambassador to Ukraine, Park Ki-chang, returned home Saturday, called in by President Lee Jae Myung over Ukraine's disclosure that two North Korean prisoners of war (POW) who were captured in 2025 are now in South Korea.

Recalling an ambassador is one of the strongest diplomatic actions a country can take, the others being the much more drastic steps of expelling the ambassador of the offending nation or formally severing ties. The last time South Korea took such step was in 2008, when it recalled its ambassador to Japan over the Dokdo islet issue. It is regrettable that the ties between South Korea and Ukraine, which have thus far been characterized by cooperation — particularly during Ukraine’s four years of war following Russia’s invasion — are now under such strain.

Seoul's frustrations stem from Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's sudden and unilateral disclosure during a speech at the United Nations that the North Korean POWs had been transferred to South Korea, a disclosure that caught Seoul off guard. In the ensuing weeks, Ukraine continued to deny that there had ever been an agreement in place between the two countries to keep the information confidential — an agreement that was intended to protect the POWs and their families who remains remain in North Korea. After Ukraine's successive apologies fell short of Seoul's demands, the matter snowballed into the diplomatic rift we see today.

Zelenskyy, whose country has been at war with Russia for more than four years, has sought to bolster international support through public statements and appeals for assistance. In asking for more support, Zelenskyy in August and September projected that more North Korean soldiers will be sent to support Russia's war efforts soon. But the issue of the North Korean POWs is a highly sensitive matter, especially after the North rewrote its constitution to categorize South Korea as a hostile nation rather than an eventual partner for unification.

In that vein, the unilateral disclosure and ensuing denial may well be seen as undoing the good faith that has existed between Seoul and Kyiv. However, diplomacy requires balancing competing interests in pursuit of a country’s broader goals. Achieving those goals sometimes calls for quieter negotiations and dialogue, as an unwaveringly hard-line stance can leave little room for maneuver in today’s complex global order.

The foreign ministries in both South Korea and Ukraine have signaled their willingness to continue dialogue. When it announced the ambassador's recall on Thursday, Seoul also said that they would "continue consultations with the Ukrainian side." A spokesperson for Ukraine's foreign ministry said that "diplomacy" should prevail over "emotions," even while softening language used at last week’s news conference. The ministry said it had “invited” the South Korean ambassador to the foreign ministry office in Kyiv to explain Ukraine’s position.

Lee reportedly is considering keeping its ambassador in Seoul until Ukraine meets South Korea's demands. Both sides must now assess the fallout should the standoff continue.

South Korea remains aligned with efforts to uphold international law and de-escalate the conflict. It has provided humanitarian assistance, supported reconstruction efforts and supplied non-lethal equipment, and announced further assistance of $100 million to Kyiv in July. Ukraine, despite being embattled, remains vital to European security. In a changing global order shaped by U.S.-China rivalry, countries increasingly need to safeguard their interests through both bilateral and multilateral diplomatic ties.

South Korea’s participation in Ukraine’s postwar reconstruction and its continued partnership with Kyiv would serve Seoul’s broader foreign policy objectives. Ukraine, in turn, must demonstrate good faith in its dealings with partner nations. Difficult circumstances may call for flexibility, but that flexibility should be guided by firm principles.

South Korea and Ukraine should work to put an end to the seeming confusion and ensure transparency and trust are restored. The two sides have clarified their differences enough to pave the way for a swift resolution and closer bilateral cooperation.

周六，基辅方面披露两名2025年被俘的朝鲜战俘已被移送至韩国后，韩国召回了驻乌克兰大使。首尔方面表示，乌克兰的披露违反了双方此前为保护战俘及其家属而达成的保密协议，而乌克兰的道歉未能满足韩国的要求。两国均表示愿意继续对话，重建互信将有助于双方开展更广泛的合作。

韩国上一次召回大使是在2008年，当时韩国因独岛问题对日本采取了这一行动。

弗拉基米尔·泽连斯基总统在联合国的一次演讲中披露了战俘转移事件，随后乌克兰否认存在保密协议。

韩国向乌克兰提供了人道主义援助、重建支持和非致命性装备，并在7月份宣布追加1亿美元的援助。

乌克兰外交部表示，已邀请韩国驻基辅大使解释乌克兰的立场，并敦促各方以外交手段解决问题，而非诉诸情绪。

发布于2026年10月11日下午2:33（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年10月11日下午5:47（韩国标准时间）

大使召回后，为了韩国的国家利益，需要展开对话。

9月23日，乌克兰总统泽连斯基在纽约联合国总部举行的联合国大会第81届会议一般性辩论中发表讲话。泽连斯基在讲话中出人意料地透露，两名在乌克兰被俘的朝鲜战俘已被送往韩国。图片来源：UPI-Yonhap

韩国驻乌克兰大使朴基昌周六返回韩国，此前韩国总统李在明召见他，原因是乌克兰方面透露，两名于2025年被俘的朝鲜战俘目前在韩国。

召回大使是国家可以采取的最强硬的外交手段之一，其他手段则更为激烈，例如驱逐对方大使或正式断绝外交关系。韩国上一次采取此类措施是在2008年，当时因独岛问题召回了驻日本大使。令人遗憾的是，韩国与乌克兰的关系如今却如此紧张。此前，两国关系一直以合作为特征，尤其是在乌克兰遭受俄罗斯入侵后长达四年的战争期间。

首尔的不满源于乌克兰总统泽连斯基在联合国大会上突然单方面透露，朝鲜战俘已被转移至韩国，这一消息令首尔措手不及。在接下来的几周里，乌克兰始终否认两国之间曾达成过任何保密协议——该协议旨在保护仍留在朝鲜的战俘及其家属。乌克兰的多次道歉未能满足首尔的要求，事态最终演变成我们今天看到的外交裂痕。

泽连斯基领导的朝鲜与俄罗斯已交战四年多，他一直试图通过公开声明和呼吁援助来加强国际社会的支持。在8月和9月，泽连斯基在请求更多支持时曾预测，很快将有更多朝鲜士兵被派往俄罗斯支援战争。但朝鲜战俘问题是一个高度敏感的问题，尤其是在朝鲜修改宪法，将韩国列为敌对国家而非最终的统一伙伴之后。

从这个角度来看，单方面披露和随后的否认很可能被视为破坏了首尔和基辅之间一直存在的善意。然而，外交需要在追求国家更广泛目标的过程中平衡各方利益。实现这些目标有时需要采取更为低调的谈判和对话，因为在当今复杂的全球秩序中，一味强硬的立场可能会使回旋余地大大减少。

韩国和乌克兰两国外交部均表示愿意继续对话。首尔方面周四宣布召回大使时也表示，将“继续与乌方磋商”。乌克兰外交部发言人表示，“外交”应凌驾于“情绪”之上，同时措辞也比上周新闻发布会上更为缓和。乌克兰外交部称已“邀请”韩国大使前往基辅外交部办公室，向其解释乌克兰的立场。

据报道，李在镕正在考虑将韩国驻韩国大使留驻首尔，直到乌克兰满足韩国的要求。双方现在都必须评估如果僵局持续下去可能造成的后果。

韩国始终致力于维护国际法并缓和冲突。韩国已提供人道主义援助，支持重建工作，并提供非致命性装备，并于7月宣布向基辅追加1亿美元援助。尽管乌克兰深陷战乱，但对欧洲安全仍然至关重要。在中美竞争格局重塑的全球秩序下，各国越来越需要通过双边和多边外交关系来维护自身利益。

韩国参与乌克兰战后重建并继续与基辅保持伙伴关系，符合首尔更广泛的外交政策目标。反过来，乌克兰必须在与伙伴国家的交往中展现诚意。困难时期或许需要灵活应对，但这种灵活应对必须以坚定的原则为指导。

韩国和乌克兰应努力消除表面上的混乱局面，确保恢复透明度和互信。双方已就分歧进行了充分的澄清，为迅速解决问题和加强双边合作铺平了道路。