South Korea has recalled its ambassador to Ukraine following a confrontation over the transfer of two North Korean soldiers to Seoul.
The decision comes after Ukraine announced it had handed the soldiers over, an act South Korea says broke a secret agreement. Kyiv, meanwhile, claims no non‑disclosure arrangement was in place, adding that the transfer had been kept quiet to protect the soldiers’ families from criticism.
The dispute began last month, when Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon‑joo lodged a formal complaint. A week earlier, Seoul’s Foreign Minister Cho Hyun reported having received an apology from Kyiv, yet the response was deemed inadequate. Ukrainian spokesmen have later stated the apology had not been issued.
In a statement, South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said it would keep consulting with Ukraine and expected to resolve outstanding issues smoothly, while warning that arming Ukraine could provoke retaliation from Russia.
The spat reflects broader tensions: South Korea has supplied non‑lethal aid to Ukraine, but maintains a policy against providing lethal weapons amid the conflict. Meanwhile, Russia has accused Seoul of siding with its ally by stepping up pressure for advanced missiles to defend Ukraine’s infrastructure.
The incident underscores the fragile balance South Korea seeks between supporting Ukraine and managing its long‑standing relationships with Russia and China, both critical partners in influencing North Korea.
