Ukraine War08 October, 20262 min read
South Korea Withdraws Ambassador To Ukraine Over Zelensky Disclosure Of Two North Korean Soldiers
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
South Korea recalls its ambassador to Ukraine over Zelensky's disclosure of two North Korean POWs. Ukraine allegedly disclosed transfer of two North Korean prisoners to Seoul, violating secrecy agreement.
4 outlets told this the same way.
Outlets did split on Marco Rubio Denies US Paused Intelligence Sharing With Ukraine, Zelenskiy Says It Was Deblocked →
Ambassador Recalled
South Korea decided to withdraw its ambassador to Ukraine, escalating a diplomatic dispute over Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s disclosure of a transfer of two captured North Korean soldiers to Seoul. South Korea said it would “continue consultations with the Ukrainian side”, and it expected that “various outstanding issues...[would] be resolved smoothly”. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi told reporters that its Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha had not apologised, according to Ukrainian news site Liga.
South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said it would “continue consultations with the Ukrainian side”, while Zelensky’s office maintained that there was no non-disclosure agreement in place. South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung called the disclosure “greatly disappointing” and said the transfer was a “highly sensitive issue” impacting national security.
Confidentiality Fight
South Korea accused Ukraine of breaching a confidentiality agreement about the transfer, while Kyiv denied agreeing to such a pact and voiced a desire to smooth over a “diplomatic understanding”. South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it would withdraw its ambassador to Ukraine, and it added that it hopes the dispute will be resolved without disruption. The dispute began after Zelensky spoke about the transfer of the North Korean soldiers during his address to the UN on September 23, and South Korea said the comments breached the confidentiality agreement.
South Korea’s Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo lodged a formal complaint with his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Vieshkin in September, and Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said he received an apology that fell short of Seoul’s expectations. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described the issue as a “diplomatic misunderstanding” that he said “we sincerely hope to resolve”.
War, Aid, and Retaliation
South Korea’s dispute with Ukraine unfolded as Russia’s foreign ministry warned it would have “no choice but to retaliate” if South Korea provided Ukraine with arms, without specifying action it might take. South Korea has said it would not provide lethal weapons to any country engaged in active war, even as Kyiv stepped up pressure on Seoul after North Korean troops were deployed to support Russia in 2024. South Korea announced a $100 million assistance package to Ukraine in July, and Lee’s office said it would expand earlier assistance comprised of non-lethal items including helmets, personal armour and medical equipment.
South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it would withdraw its ambassador and continue consultations, while the BBC described the spat as the latest escalation in a diplomatic row between both countries. The Independent en Español account said South Korea provided $445 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine since 2022, and it framed the controversy as tied to the soldiers’ capture in early 2025 and their desire to resettle in South Korea.