Ukraine, South Korea Move to Repair Ties After Dispute Over DPRK POWs

Ukraine and South Korea are working to restore bilateral relations following a diplomatic dispute over the disclosure of two captured North Korean soldiers, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on Nov. 10.Sybiha said he had a “good meeting” with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun on the sidelines of a G7 ministerial meeting, adding that both sides were ready to move toward fully normalizing relations.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.“We now have in front of us the next series of actions for the final normalisation of bilateral relations,” Sybiha said in comments to Ukrainian national television, as quoted by Reuters.He added that the two sides had discussed recent disagreements openly and that Ukraine deserved a “dynamic and high-level bilateral relationship with South Korea.”South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said on Nov. 11 that Cho had expressed hope that outstanding issues between the two countries would be resolved smoothly.Cho also said Seoul would continue considering ways to provide humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and support its reconstruction, according to the ministry.The diplomatic dispute began after President Volodymyr Zelensky disclosed during his Sept. 23 UN General Assembly address that Ukraine had transferred two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea.Ukrainian forces captured the soldiers in Russia’s Kursk region in January 2025. They reportedly arrived in South Korea in mid-September 2026. Other Topics of Interest ‘None of the Aid Reached the People’ – Russian Occupation Authorities Deny Civilians Humanitarian Aid in Oleshky Some 1,300 civilians remain in the occupied city, while food supplies reportedly sit in a warehouse and 92 nearby villages face worsening conditions. North Korea has deployed an estimated 14,000 to 15,000 troops to support Russia’s war against Ukraine since 2024, according to Ukrainian and South Korean estimates. Most have been stationed in Russia’s Kursk region, where they have helped Russian forces repel Ukraine’s cross-border incursion.Seoul said the two governments had agreed to keep the transfer confidential to protect the prisoners and their families in North Korea.Kyiv disputed this, saying South Korea had been informed in advance of Zelensky’s intention to mention the transfer and that no sensitive details or identities had been disclosed.South Korean President Lee Jae Myung subsequently demanded an apology, while Cho said Ukraine’s response had fallen short of Seoul’s expectations.On Oct. 8, South Korea recalled its ambassador, Park Ki-chang, and on Oct. 20 announced plans to withdraw embassy personnel, citing both the unresolved dispute and security concerns amid Russian attacks.By Oct. 27, eight diplomatic personnel had been withdrawn, although essential staff and consular services remained in Ukraine. Cho said he continued communicating with Sybiha in an effort to resolve the disagreement.Despite the diplomatic rift, Seoul maintained that its broader support for Ukraine remained unchanged, including humanitarian assistance and participation in reconstruction efforts. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 90% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.