South Korea recalls ambassador as Ukraine disputes North Korean POW transfer

South Korea’s ambassador to Kyiv returned to Seoul on Saturday after the South Korean government recalled him, a move that follows a sharp diplomatic flare‑up with Ukraine over two North Korean soldiers. The recall comes after a series of tit‑for‑tat actions that have severely strained the two countries’ relations.

The dispute began on 23 September when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the United Nations General Assembly that Ukraine had handed two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea. The men were seized by Ukrainian forces in January 2025 in the Russian Kursk region while fighting alongside Russian troops. Seoul was outraged, insisting that the transfer had been kept secret under a bilateral agreement. Kyiv denied that any confidentiality pact existed, accusing South Korea of lying and demanding an apology.

Ukraine has framed the incident as a “diplomatic understanding” but stopped short of a public apology. Meanwhile, reports surfaced last week that a close adviser to Zelenskyy claimed more than 176,000 tons of diesel and other energy products were shipped from South Korean ports to Russia in July and August, a breach of international sanctions. Seoul denied the allegation and, two days later, recalled its ambassador to Kyiv. Experts say South Korea wanted to keep the POW transfer quiet to avoid North Korean retaliation against the soldiers’ families and to preserve a channel for communication with Pyongyang, a priority for the left‑leaning wing of Korean politics that favours rapprochement. Erwin Tan, a professor at Hankuk University, noted that the South Korean government was under pressure at home to appear firm, while Kim Sang‑woo, a former politician, warned that Moscow and Pyongyang would eventually learn of the transfer and that Lee’s administration faced criticism for seeming too soft.

The recall signals a deepening rift that could affect regional security and sanctions compliance. If the two sides fail to resolve the dispute, further diplomatic or economic measures may follow. The situation remains a flashpoint in East Asian diplomacy, highlighting the delicate balance between transparency, security concerns, and political pressures.