Ukraine and South Korea’s Foreign Ministers to Meet in Paris amid Diplomatic Row
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun plan to meet in Paris on the sidelines of the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting. The talks are intended to normalize bilateral relations and restore or sustain dialogue after a dispute over Ukraine’s handover of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea.
Key points
- Andrii Sybiha and Cho Hyun plan a personal meeting in Paris during the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting on November 9–10.
- The stated aim is to normalize Ukraine–South Korea relations and restore or sustain bilateral dialogue.
- The encounter follows a diplomatic row triggered by Ukraine’s transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea.
- South Korea recalled eight diplomats from Ukraine and its ambassador Pak Ki Chan in October.
- Seoul cited the unresolved dispute and security risks from repeated Russian airstrikes as reasons for recalling staff.
- Kyiv said the diplomatic dialogue and ministerial contact continued and that Ukraine was ready for de-escalation and normalization.
- Sybiha also planned talks in Paris with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.
Why it matters
The planned meeting would mark the first high-level bilateral contact between Kyiv and Seoul after the dispute over the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war. It may help reverse the recent diplomatic de-escalation, including South Korea’s decision to recall eight diplomats and its ambassador from Ukraine. The timing is also significant because the meeting takes place alongside a G7 session on supporting Ukraine, while repeated Russian airstrikes have increased security risks for Korean diplomats in the country.
What happened
Ukrainian and South Korean officials, speaking through a diplomatic source, said Andrii Sybiha and Cho Hyun plan to meet in Paris on the sidelines of the G7 foreign ministers’ gathering. Their objective is to normalize bilateral relations and restore or maintain dialogue between Kyiv and Seoul. The planned encounter follows a conflict generated by Ukraine’s announcement that it had transferred two North Korean prisoners of war from the DPR to South Korea. Seoul moved to recall part of its embassy staff and its ambassador, while Kyiv continued to seek de-escalation. During his Paris visit, Sybiha was also expected to meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and other foreign ministers.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian outlets emphasize that the meeting is intended to restart bilateral relations and normalize ties. Kyiv says the ministerial-level dialogue never stopped, and its foreign ministry has expressed readiness for de-escalation and full normalization. Ukrainian officials also deny that any confidentiality agreement existed concerning the prisoners’ transfer, portraying the dispute as a misunderstanding rather than a deliberate breach. The continuing threat of Russian airstrikes is acknowledged as one of several factors behind Seoul’s decision to recall staff.
How international sources describe it
The international framing is based on South Korean positions quoted in the Ukrainian-language reporting. Seoul says Ukraine insisted on secrecy before President Zelenskyy publicly announced the transfer without consultations. It also links the recall of diplomats to the unresolved dispute and the danger posed by repeated Russian airstrikes. Cho Hyun’s position that Kyiv’s apology was insufficient and that further escalation could endanger diplomatic relations gives the dispute a Seoul-centered perspective.
Where reporting differs
The sides disagree over whether Ukraine had an obligation to keep the prisoners’ transfer secret. Kyiv’s presidential administration denies that any confidentiality agreement existed and says the information was disclosed without consulting Seoul. Seoul says Ukraine insisted on secrecy and Zelenskyy publicized the transfer without prior consultations. Korea JoongAng Daily reported that Kyiv had warned Seoul through diplomatic channels that the president would mention the prisoners, but this account does not resolve the broader dispute over the existence of a binding agreement.
Background
On September 23, Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine had handed two North Korean prisoners of war from the DPR to South Korea. The next day, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung accused Kyiv of disclosing sensitive information and violating an agreement to keep the transfer secret. He demanded official apologies and explanations and described the repatriation issue as extremely sensitive. Seoul later recalled eight diplomats and its ambassador Pak Ki Chan, citing the unresolved dispute and security risks from Russian airstrikes, while retaining the personnel needed for the embassy to operate. Cho Hyun said the apology from Sybiha was insufficient. On October 30, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Georgii Tykhii said the diplomatic dialogue continued and that Ukraine was prepared for de-escalation and normalization.