South Korea recalls eight diplomats from Ukraine amid dispute over North Korean POWs

In brief

• South Korea has withdrawn eight diplomatic staff from Ukraine.
• The move follows a dispute over Kyiv's disclosure of a transfer of two North Korean POWs to Seoul.
• Seoul also cites the ongoing threat of Russian strikes and says it remains in contact with Ukraine's foreign minister.

Withdrawal of eight staff

South Korea has pulled eight diplomatic officials out of Ukraine, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun told a parliamentary audit of the ministry on Tuesday, 27 October. He said the move was unavoidable because Ukraine had not, in Seoul's view, taken adequate steps to resolve the row. (Південна Корея відкликала з України вісьмох дипломатів через суперечку щодо полонених КНДР – UNIAN) (Скандал між Україною та Південною Кореєю набирає небезпечних обертів: Сеул пішов на різкий крок – TSN) (Южная Корея отозвала восемь дипломатов из Украины из-за угрозы ударов и неурегулированного конфликта по поводу пленных – NV)

Dispute over the prisoners

The friction stems from Kyiv's public disclosure that it had handed two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea. Seoul has since demanded official explanations and an apology for the disclosure, and its position is that Ukraine has not moved to settle the matter. (Південна Корея відкликала 8 своїх дипломатів з України – Українська правда)

Ambassador already recalled

Earlier in October, South Korea recalled its ambassador to Ukraine, Park Ki-chan, and decided to reduce embassy staffing. Officials cited both the diplomatic dispute and the persistent danger of Russian missile and drone attacks.

Ukrainian response

Presidential communications adviser Dmytro Lytvyn rejected the claim that Ukraine had broken an agreement with Seoul.

Channels stay open

Cho said he remains in contact with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and wants the issue settled as quickly as possible. He did not rule out that the dispute could develop into a serious crisis in bilateral relations if tensions keep rising.