South Korea to recall ambassador from Ukraine over North Korean POW transfer row

Centre · 2South Korea said on Thursday 8 October that it will recall its ambassador to Ukraine, in response to a deepening diplomatic row over the transfer of North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul. 1 2 Centre · 2The foreign ministry said in a statement: "The government has decided to recall its ambassador to Ukraine." 1 2 Centre · 2The ministry added that Seoul hopes all outstanding issues between the two countries will be resolved amicably and will continue consultations with the Ukrainian side to that end. 1 2

Centre · 2The countries have been at loggerheads since Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky angered Seoul by disclosing the transfer of the prisoners, who were captured on the battlefield early last year. 1 2 Centre · 2Zelensky revealed the transfer of two captured North Korean soldiers in a speech at the UN General Assembly in September, saying they had not been "easy to capture alive". 3 4 Centre · 2Seoul says Ukraine agreed to keep the transfer confidential and broke that agreement; Zelensky's office maintains there was no non-disclosure agreement. 3 4

Centre · 2Seoul has summoned Kyiv's ambassador and threatened unspecified "further measures", while President Lee Jae Myung has demanded an official apology over concerns that the disclosure could put the POWs' families at risk. 1 2 Centre · 1Lee's office said the transfer had been kept confidential partly to protect the North Koreans' families, and that Ukraine had indicated the soldiers would be mentioned in the address but not the fact of their transfer; Lee called the disclosure "greatly disappointing" and a "highly sensitive issue" for national security. 3 Centre · 1Seoul later demanded Ukraine apologise for "announcing a falsehood", and the opposition at home accused Lee of wanting to cover up the transfer to appease Pyongyang, which his office rejected. 3

Centre · 2Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga has referred to the incident as a "diplomatic misunderstanding". 1 2 Centre · 1Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said earlier this week he had received an apology from his Ukrainian counterpart that fell short of Seoul's expectations, but on Wednesday Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said Sybiha had not apologised, according to Ukrainian site Liga. 3 Centre · 2The recall also follows a report this week alleging that more than 176,000 tonnes of fuel, mostly diesel, were shipped from South Korea to Russia in July and August, prompting accusations that Seoul was helping alleviate Russian fuel shortages; DW attributes the report to an investigative piece in The Guardian that says the fuel travelled via sanctioned tankers, and the coverage does not say whether the claim has been verified. 1 4

Centre · 2South Korea has given Ukraine humanitarian and non-lethal aid, including a $100 million package announced in July, but has refused to provide lethal weapons to countries at war while keeping cordial ties with Russia, which has warned it would retaliate if Seoul armed Ukraine. 3 4