South Korea Summons Ukrainian Envoy in Protest Over North Korean POW Transfer

South Korea summoned the Ukrainian envoy to its embassy in Seoul on September 28, 2026, as a direct protest against the transfer of North Korean prisoners of war to Ukraine. The action was taken in response to what Seoul described as a violation of international norms and a threat to regional security. The exact number of POWs transferred is not specified, but the move has been widely reported in South Korean media as a significant diplomatic gesture. Ukraine has not publicly commented on the matter, but the transfer of North Korean POWs is believed to have occurred under a bilateral agreement between the two nations. South Korea claims the transfer undermines its strategic interests and could destabilize the Korean Peninsula. The incident has drawn criticism from North Korea, which has accused Seoul of interfering in its internal affairs. The sources report the event with consistent details, though the exact timing of the summons varies slightly across outlets. The straits-times reports it as occurring at 11:27 AM, while english.alarabiya.net notes it at 1:17 PM. Despite these minor discrepancies, the core facts remain aligned.