New Europe Center
-
South Korea recalls ambassador to Ukraine amid dispute over North Korean POW transfer and fuel allegations
On October 8, South Korea's Foreign Ministry announced the recall of its ambassador to Ukraine, Park Hee-chang, amid a diplomatic dispute that erupted after President Volodymyr Zelensky announced at the UN General Assembly on September 23 that Ukraine had transferred two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea. Seoul accused Kyiv of breaching a non-disclosure agreement and demanded an apology, while Ukraine's Office of the President and Foreign Ministry denied any such agreement existed. A separate row flared after Ukrainian sanctions adviser Vladyslav Vlasyuk, citing The Guardian, alleged that more than 176,000 tonnes of fuel were shipped from South Korea to Russia in July and August on sanctioned tankers; South Korea's presidential office rejected the claim as 'unacceptable' and cited official statistics showing no such exports.