South Korea partially withdraws eight diplomats from Ukraine amid dispute over POW disclosure
South Korea has partially withdrawn eight diplomatic staff members from Ukraine amid a dispute over Kyiv’s public disclosure of the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war. Key embassy personnel remain in Ukraine, and Seoul says its broader support for Ukraine will continue.
Key points
- South Korea withdrew eight diplomatic staff members from Ukraine.
- The dispute followed Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s public announcement of the POW transfer at the UN General Assembly on September 23.
- Seoul says Ukraine breached a confidentiality agreement by publicly revealing the transfer.
- Ukrainian presidential adviser Dmytro Lytvyn denies that such an agreement existed.
- Key South Korean embassy personnel remain in Ukraine to operate diplomatic institutions and protect South Korean citizens.
- South Korea previously recalled its ambassador to Ukraine, Pak Ki-chan, earlier in October.
- Seoul says humanitarian aid, Ukraine reconstruction conferences and international efforts to end the war will continue.
Why it matters
The partial withdrawal creates a risk for South Korea’s diplomatic relations with Ukraine, particularly because the dispute concerns both confidentiality and the safety of the prisoners and their families in North Korea. However, South Korea says its broader support for Ukraine, including humanitarian assistance, reconstruction conferences and international efforts to end the war, remains unchanged.
What happened
South Korea partially withdrew eight diplomatic staff members from Ukraine, citing the dispute over Ukraine’s public disclosure of the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war and the threat of Russian strikes. Cho Hyun said the withdrawal was unavoidable because Ukraine had not properly resolved the conflict, while key embassy personnel remained in the country to run diplomatic institutions and protect South Korean citizens. The measure followed Seoul’s earlier decision to recall Ambassador Pak Ki-chan from Ukraine.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian reporting emphasizes that the withdrawal was linked to the dispute over disclosing the prisoners’ transfer and to security concerns arising from Russian attacks. It also highlights Dmytro Lytvyn’s denial that a confidentiality agreement existed and notes that key South Korean embassy personnel remain in Ukraine while Seoul’s broader support continues.
How international sources describe it
International coverage centered on South Korea’s claim that Ukraine failed to preserve confidentiality, its demands for an explanation and apology, and the possible threat to diplomatic relations. It also reported Cho Hyun’s assurance that communication with Ukraine’s foreign minister continues and that South Korea’s wider support for Ukraine remains intact.
Where reporting differs
The central disagreement is over whether a confidentiality agreement existed. South Korea says Kyiv violated such an agreement by publicly disclosing the prisoners’ transfer, while Dmytro Lytvyn denies that any agreement was reached. Seoul also demanded official explanations and apologies; Korea JoongAng Daily reported that Ukraine had informed South Korea beforehand about Zelenskyy’s intention to mention the prisoners at the UN General Assembly despite the alleged agreement.
Background
Ukrainian forces captured the two North Korean prisoners of war in the Kursk region in January 2025 and later transferred them to South Korea. Zelenskyy publicly announced the transfer during a UN General Assembly speech on September 23. On September 24, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung accused Ukraine of violating the confidentiality agreement, and the two countries’ dispute led to South Korea recalling its ambassador earlier in October.