--- title: "Sybiha and South Korean FM Discuss North Korean POWs Scandal: Steps Toward Normalization" description: "The foreign ministers of Ukraine and South Korea held an open conversation on the sidelines of the G7, discussing the scandal surrounding the transfer of North Korean prisoners. Sybiha announced the parties' readiness to take steps toward normalizing relations." date: 2026-11-11T05:14:17.967Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/ukraine-south-korea-relations-normalization-pows-scandal tags: [ukraine, south-korea, diplomacy, g7, north-korea-pows] author: "Alexander Buran" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Sybiha and South Korean FM Discuss North Korean POWs Scandal: Steps Toward Normalization ![Meeting between Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and South Korean Foreign Minister](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/11/ukraina-yuzhnaya-koreya-normalizatsiya-otnosheniy-posle-skandala-s-p-nymi/ukraina-yuzhnaya-koreya-normalizatsiya-otnosheniy-posle-skandala-s-p-nymi-1.webp) ## Key Points - The foreign ministers of Ukraine and South Korea met on the sidelines of the G7 and held an "open conversation" about the North Korean POWs scandal. - Sybiha called the meeting "good" and stated the need for a series of steps to finally normalize relations. - The scandal began after Zelenskyy's September 23 UNGA statement about transferring two North Korean POWs captured in 2025 in the Kursk region to Seoul. - Seoul accused Kyiv of violating a confidentiality agreement; Ukraine denied the existence of such an arrangement. - On October 8, South Korea recalled its ambassador from Kyiv, and on October 27, another eight embassy employees. The diplomatic rift between Ukraine and South Korea, triggered by the scandal surrounding the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war, is beginning to smooth over. The foreign ministers of both countries—Ukrainian Minister Andrii Sybiha and South Korean Minister Cho Tae-yul—held a meeting on the sidelines of the G7 summit, during which, according to Kyiv, an "open conversation" took place regarding recent "unpleasant events." Both parties confirmed their readiness to take a series of steps toward the final normalization of bilateral relations, which were effectively frozen at the peak of the conflict. ### Open Conversation on the Sidelines of G7 Andrii Sybiha described his meeting with Cho Tae-yul as "good" and stated that he is satisfied with the dynamics of relationship restoration. "We had a truly good conversation during which we openly discussed those recent unpleasant events and the facts that occurred," the Ukrainian minister reported. According to his assessment, the two capitals now face the task of going through a series of consecutive steps to complete the normalization process. Sybiha emphasized that Kyiv and Seoul "deserve exceptionally dynamic, high-level bilateral relations," which effectively outlines the target format of interaction after the dispute is settled. ### How the Scandal Started: North Korean POWs The crisis in relations erupted following Volodymyr Zelenskyy's statement on September 23 at the UN General Assembly session. The head of the Ukrainian state announced that Ukraine had handed over two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea, who were reportedly captured in 2025 during combat operations in the Kursk region. It was the public disclosure of this fact, rather than the transfer itself, that triggered the diplomatic conflict: Seoul considered Kyiv's actions a violation of a previously reached agreement. ### Positions of the Parties: Confidentiality or Lack Thereof South Korea accused Kyiv of violating a confidentiality agreement on the basis of which, according to Seoul, the transfer of prisoners was organized. The Ukrainian side, in turn, denied the very existence of such an agreement. Amid mutual claims, Seoul demanded official apologies and recalled its ambassador from Kyiv on October 8. On October 27, the South Korean side recalled eight more embassy staff members, explaining that Kyiv had not taken sufficient steps to resolve the dispute. Thus, by the time of the G7 meeting, the diplomatic presence of both countries in the capitals had been significantly reduced. ### Prospects for Normalization The meeting on the sidelines of the G7 became the first public signal that the parties are ready to move from exchanging claims to constructive dialogue. According to Sybiha, a series of practical steps aimed at the final restoration of relations lies ahead. A key issue remains whether the parties will manage to agree on the interpretation of the confidentiality incident: this discrepancy in the evaluation of facts was the main obstacle to de-escalation. Nevertheless, the very fact of an "open conversation" at the ministerial level indicates that the diplomatic channel is working again, and the format of "exceptionally dynamic high-level relations" declared by Kyiv may serve as a guide for further interaction. ## Accounts differ ### Existence and violation of the confidentiality agreement during the transfer of prisoners - **South Korea (Seoul):** Kyiv violated the confidentiality agreement on the basis of which the transfer of prisoners was organized; Seoul demanded apologies. ([rbc.ua](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/vidnosini-pivdennoyu-koreeyu-nalagodzhuyutsya-1794373667.html)) - **Ukraine (Kyiv):** The Ukrainian side denies that such a confidentiality agreement existed. ([rbc.ua](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/vidnosini-pivdennoyu-koreeyu-nalagodzhuyutsya-1794373667.html)) *Where they agree:* Both parties recognize the very fact of transferring two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea, which was announced on September 23 at the UN General Assembly. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [Отношения с Южной Кореей налаживаются после скандала с пленными из КНДР, - МИД](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/vidnosini-pivdennoyu-koreeyu-nalagodzhuyutsya-1794373667.html) - Первоисточник: цитаты Сибиги, хронология скандала (23.09 заявление Зеленского, 08.10 отзыв посла, 27.10 отзыв 8 сотрудников), позиции обеих сторон по конфиденциальности. ## FAQ ### Where and when did the meeting between the foreign ministers of Ukraine and South Korea take place? The meeting took place on the sidelines of the G7 summit; according to Sybiha, it was a "truly good conversation" about recent unpleasant events. ### What caused the diplomatic scandal? The cause was Zelenskyy's public statement on September 23 at the UN General Assembly regarding the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war captured in 2025 in the Kursk region to South Korea. ### Where do the positions of Kyiv and Seoul diverge? South Korea claims that Kyiv violated a confidentiality agreement; the Ukrainian side denies that such an agreement existed. ### What steps has South Korea already taken during the conflict? On October 8, Seoul recalled its ambassador from Kyiv, and on October 27, another eight embassy staff members, citing Kyiv's lack of steps to resolve the dispute.