The South Korean government has officially decided to recall its ambassador from Ukraine amid a mounting diplomatic crisis. The catalyst for this drastic step is the incident involving the public disclosure of details regarding the transfer of captured North Korean soldiers, whom the Armed Forces of Ukraine seized during fighting in the Kursk sector back in January 2025.
Background of the Conflict and the UN Address
The sharp dispute between Kyiv and Seoul entered the public sphere after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke at the UN General Assembly on September 23. In his speech, the head of state openly announced the transfer of two North Korean servicemen to the South Korean side. This statement came as a complete surprise to official Seoul, which had expected strict confidentiality to be maintained.
Contradictory Data
Regarding compliance with agreements, the parties' positions diverge drastically. South Korean President Lee Jae-myung accused the Ukrainian authorities of intentionally leaking classified information, emphasizing that secrecy was necessary to protect the safety of the prisoners themselves and their relatives remaining in North Korea. Meanwhile, sources in the Office of the President of Ukraine categorically denied the existence of any non-disclosure agreements, stating that Kyiv had not undertaken obligations to conceal the mere fact of the transfer without disclosing sensitive details.
Seoul's Reaction and Future Outlook
Despite attempts by the Ukrainian side to resolve the incident, including official apologies, Seoul deemed these measures insufficient and threatened additional restrictive measures. At the same time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Korea emphasizes that the government continues to hope for a peaceful resolution of outstanding issues and intends to maintain consultative contacts with Ukrainian diplomats to overcome the crisis.
