South Korea Recalls Envoy to Ukraine Over North Korean POW Dispute
South Korea recalled its ambassador to Ukraine on October 8, 2026, in response to Ukraine's disclosure of the transfer of North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul. The recall followed Ukraine's denial of having agreed with South Korea to keep the transfer confidential. The incident marks a significant escalation in the diplomatic tensions between the two nations.
Where Sources Diverge
Some sources mention the recall was announced on October 8, 2026, while others note the ambassador returned home on October 10, 2026.
The South Korean Foreign Ministry issued a press release on October 8, 2026.
The ambassador returned home on October 10, 2026.
The exact wording of the South Korean Foreign Ministry's statement varies slightly between sources.
The government looks forward to the smooth resolution of all pending issues between the two countries.
The government hopes that various pending issues between the two countries will be resolved smoothly.
Some sources do not provide detailed excerpts, making it difficult to verify specific statements from the South Korean Foreign Ministry.
The article does not provide an excerpt.
The article does not provide an excerpt.
The exact date of the ambassador's return home is not consistently reported across sources.
The ambassador returned home on October 10, 2026.
The ambassador returned home on October 10, 2026.
Timelines
Sources
South Korea's ambassador to Ukraine returned home Saturday after being recalled in protest of Kyiv's disclosure of the transfer of North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) to Seoul, the foreign ministry said. Ambassador Park Ki-chang arrived two days after the foreign ministry announced the recall in response to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's disclosure of the transfer and Kyiv's subsequent denial that it had agreed with Seoul to keep the matter confidential. The two North Korean soldiers
S. Korean ambassador to Ukraine returns home amid dispute over N.K. POW disclosure Yonhap News Agency
South Korea recalls Ukraine envoy over prisoner-of-war row Saudi Gazette
SEOUL – South Korea has decided to recall its ambassador to Ukraine, the Foreign Ministry said Thursday, in an unusually strong diplomatic move as tension continues to mount between Seoul and Kyiv. "The government has decided to recall the South Korean ambassador to Ukraine," the ministry said in a brief statement posted on its official [...]
It is the latest in a diplomatic spat after Kyiv disclosed that two North Korean prisoners were transferred to Seoul.
"The government looks forward to the smooth resolution of all pending issues between the two countries and will continue consultations with the Ukrainian side to this end," the South Korean Foreign Ministry said in a press release.
South Korea to recall ambassador from Kyiv Ukrinform
South Korea has decided to recall its ambassador to Ukraine, the Foreign Ministry said Thursday, in an unusually strong diplomatic move as tension continues to mount between Seoul and Kyiv. "The government has decided to recall the South Korean ambassador to Ukraine," the ministry said in a brief statement posted on its official website. "The government hopes that various pending issues between the two countries will be resolved smoothly and will continue consultations with the Ukrainian side to
South Korea recalls ambassador to Ukraine amid dispute with Kyiv Al Arabiya English