South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun stated during parliamentary hearings on October 28 that Seoul does not rule out the possibility of a complete break in diplomatic relations with Ukraine if the current escalation of disagreements between the two countries continues. "If the escalation continues, I believe such a possibility also exists," the head of the South Korean Foreign Ministry replied to a direct question about whether the current diplomatic crisis with Kyiv could escalate into a severance of ties. The statement came against the background of steps already taken by Seoul to reduce its diplomatic presence in Ukraine.
Chronology of the Diplomatic Crisis
The dispute between Kyiv and Seoul escalated on September 23 when President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking at the UN General Assembly, publicly announced the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea. In early October, Seoul recalled its ambassador to Kyiv, Park Ki-chan, and subsequently decided to reduce embassy staff. Just prior to Cho Hyun's statement, South Korea recalled another eight diplomats from Ukraine, marking the sharpest step in the current crisis.
Seoul's Position: Breach of Confidentiality
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung stated that the public disclosure of information regarding the transfer of prisoners of war violated a previously reached confidentiality agreement. Seoul explained that maintaining secrecy was necessary to protect the soldiers and their families remaining in North Korea. According to this logic, publicly announcing the transfer of two individuals could jeopardize the safety of other North Korean servicemen stationed in Ukraine and their close relatives in North Korea.
Kyiv's Reaction
The Office of the President of Ukraine objected to classifying the incident as a violation of a confidentiality agreement. Kyiv disputes Seoul's very interpretation regarding the existence and content of a non-disclosure agreement. Thus, the parties disagree on whether there was a legally binding agreement to keep the transfer of prisoners of war secret and to what extent it was formulated.
Context and Potential Consequences
The diplomatic incident between the two countries, which until September 2026 maintained constructive interaction within the anti-Russian coalition, has become one of the sharpest in the history of their relations. The threat of a complete break in diplomatic ties, voiced at the foreign minister level, underscores the seriousness with which Seoul views what it assesses as a breach of a confidential agreement. For Ukraine, the loss of the South Korean diplomatic channel in the midst of hostilities could have additional political and logistical consequences, although neither side has yet announced specific timelines or conditions for a potential normalization of contacts.
