South Korea Recalls Some Diplomats From Ukraine Over North Korean POW Row

South Korea has decided to recall part of its diplomatic staff from Ukraine, Yonhap reported, citing South Korea's Foreign Ministry. Seoul says Kyiv has taken no positive steps to resolve the dispute over its public disclosure of information about the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war, and that the constant threat of Russian air strikes makes it harder to ensure diplomats' safety.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Park Doo-sun said at a briefing that Ukraine has still not taken "positive steps" to settle the diplomatic row over Kyiv's unilateral release of information about the transfer of North Korean POWs to Seoul.

Contacts continue

Despite the partial withdrawal, South Korea will maintain the necessary diplomatic contacts with Ukraine, led by a chargé d'affaires. All consular staff will remain in the country to continue protecting South Korean citizens.

Earlier this month, the South Korean government recalled its ambassador to Ukraine, Park Ki-chan, after Seoul expressed regret over Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's public disclosure of the transfer. Seoul is demanding an official explanation and an apology from Ukraine. Ukraine's Presidential Office denies there was any agreement to keep the matter confidential.

Background

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung said Ukraine had broken a non-disclosure agreement by making public the transfer to the South of two North Korean prisoners of war. Zelensky's communications adviser Dmytro Lytvyn denied that Ukraine had violated any agreement with South Korea, but the Korean president's administration still demanded official explanations and an apology. More in our World section.