Seoul, October 10 (Daily Kiran) : South Korea’s ambassador to Ukraine, Park Ki-chang, returned home on October 10, escalating a diplomatic conflict between the two nations. This move follows Ukraine’s announcement of transferring two North Korean prisoners to South Korea, a disclosure that has sparked significant tensions.
The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the ambassador’s return, which came two days after the decision was made public. South Korea has expressed its desire to continue dialogue with Ukraine to resolve the matter peacefully.
The controversy began when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed the transfer during his address at the United Nations General Assembly last month. South Korea claims there was an agreement to keep the details of this transfer confidential.
According to South Korean officials, the two North Korean soldiers were captured by Ukrainian forces in January 2025 during fighting in Russia’s Kursk region, where they were reportedly involved on the side of Russia. They arrived in South Korea in mid-September 2026.
Seoul decided to keep the information private to protect the soldiers and their families still in North Korea. South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin noted that the request for confidentiality initially came from Ukraine.
However, Ukraine has denied any agreement regarding confidentiality, leading to heightened disagreements between the two countries. South Korea is now seeking an official clarification and an apology from Ukraine.
On October 6, the South Korean foreign minister mentioned receiving a message of apology from his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba, but stated it did not meet Seoul’s expectations. This prompted the South Korean government to consider more stringent actions.
Recalling the ambassador is a rare diplomatic step for South Korea, which last occurred in 2008 during a dispute with Japan. The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated its commitment to resolving various issues amicably and plans to continue consultations with Ukraine.
Despite the ongoing dispute, no announcement has been made regarding the severance of diplomatic ties between the two nations.
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