South Korea recalls envoy to Ukraine over Zelenskyy POW disclosure

South Korea is recalling its ambassador to Ukraine after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul. The move deepens a diplomatic rift between partners whose cooperation matters for intelligence, aid and regional strategy.Seoul,Oct 8, 2026 16:04 ISTSouth Korea said on Thursday that it will recall its ambassador to Ukraine, stepping up its protest against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s disclosure of what Seoul says was a secret transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea.The move came days after South Korean President Lee Jae Myung threatened unspecified punitive steps if Ukraine does not apologise over the disclosure. South Korea’s Foreign Ministry did not say when ambassador Park Hee-chang would return home, but said consultations with Ukraine would continue and that it hoped the dispute would be resolved smoothly.South Korea and Ukraine were drawn into a diplomatic row after Zelenskyy spoke about the transfer of the North Korean soldiers during his UN speech on September 23. South Korea has accused Ukraine of violating a non-disclosure agreement linked to the soldiers’ transfer in mid-September, while Kyiv has denied that it agreed to any such deal.The two soldiers were among thousands of North Korean troops sent to support Russia’s war against Ukraine. Since being captured in early 2025, they had expressed a wish to resettle in South Korea, saying they could face persecution if they were sent back home. South Korea had said it would accept them because it legally regards North Korea as part of its territory and has a policy of accepting and financially supporting North Korean defectors. South Korean officials have said the non-disclosure agreement was needed because they were concerned about the safety of the two soldiers and their relatives in North Korea. However, many experts say South Korea’s liberal government may also be worried that public disclosure of their arrival could affect its efforts to improve ties with Pyongyang.North Korea’s state media has not commented on the soldiers’ transfer. But the North has reacted angrily in the past to major defections by its citizens, accusing South Korea of kidnapping them. North Korea has also avoided talks with South Korea and the United States and has focused on expanding its nuclear programme since 2019. It is not clear what other steps South Korea may take. Experts say good ties with Ukraine are in South Korea’s national interest because Kyiv could share intelligence on North Korea’s growing military cooperation with Russia and its battlefield experience. They also say cooperation with Ukraine matters for South Korea’s wider partnerships with Western countries backing Ukraine in the war.Observers say Zelenskyy disclosed the transfer of the North Korean prisoners to highlight the risks of North Korea’s military support for Russia and to seek more international assistance. South Korea has provided USD 445 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine since 2022, and Lee in July pledged another USD 100 million during a meeting with Zelenskyy. Overall, the recall of the ambassador marks a further escalation in a dispute that has put pressure on ties between Seoul and Kyiv.With PTI Inputs- Ends