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South Korea says it will withdraw some diplomatic staff from its embassy in Kyiv after concluding that Ukraine has not taken positive steps to resolve a dispute over two North Korean prisoners of war. Seoul also cited the risks posed by ongoing Russian airstrikes. The timing and number of staff affected have not been reported.
South Korea will recall some diplomatic staff from its embassy in Kyiv, its Foreign Ministry said, as a dispute with Ukraine over the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war remains unresolved. The ministry said Kyiv had not taken “positive steps” to settle the conflict and that Russian airstrikes are making it harder to protect South Korean personnel.
The ministry’s decision follows Seoul’s earlier move to recall its ambassador from Ukraine in early October. Yonhap reported the planned staff reduction, citing the diplomatic dispute. The ministry’s stated reasons combine the unresolved disagreement with security concerns affecting personnel in Kyiv.
The dispute began after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky publicly said that Kyiv had handed two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea. Seoul said the arrangement had been private and that Ukraine initiated the transfer. The public announcement became a point of friction between the governments.
South Korea sought an official apology from Ukraine. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha offered an apology during diplomatic consultations, according to the report, but Seoul considered that insufficient because it was not made publicly. The latest staff decision signals that the disagreement has continued despite those consultations.
Staffing Ties Under Strain
The planned withdrawal affects South Korea’s diplomatic presence in Ukraine at a time when its government says the security environment in Kyiv is already difficult. Reducing embassy staffing may limit the personnel available for diplomatic work and support, although the report does not detail which positions or services will be affected.
The move also shows that the disagreement over the prisoners has become a broader bilateral issue. Seoul has already recalled its ambassador and now says it will withdraw other staff, linking its response both to Ukraine’s handling of the dispute and to risks from Russian attacks. The announcement does not by itself establish a wider break in diplomatic relations.
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How the Prisoner Dispute Began
The immediate issue is the handling and public disclosure of the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war from Ukraine to South Korea. Zelensky’s public remarks about the handover prompted Seoul to say the arrangement had been private. South Korea also said Kyiv had initiated it, a characterization attributed to the South Korean government.
Seoul then demanded an official apology. Sybiha’s apology during consultations did not meet that demand, according to the report, because South Korea wanted a public apology. In early October, Seoul recalled its ambassador. The planned withdrawal of additional staff is the next reported step in the dispute, alongside the security concern the ministry has raised about ongoing Russian airstrikes.
“Kyiv had not taken “positive steps” to resolve the diplomatic conflict.”
— South Korea’s Foreign Ministry, as reported by Yonhap
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Details of the Withdrawal
The report does not specify how many staff members South Korea plans to recall, when they will leave, or which embassy functions may be affected. It also does not say whether the withdrawal is temporary or how Seoul will decide when it is safe to restore staffing.
The precise status of the prisoners and the terms of their transfer are not detailed in the report. Seoul’s account that the arrangement was private and initiated by Ukraine is attributed to the South Korean government; the report does not provide a fuller account from Kyiv of the transfer or the disagreement over the apology. It is also unclear whether either government has agreed on a further diplomatic step to settle the dispute.
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Watch for Seoul and Kyiv Responses
The immediate next developments are likely to be further information from South Korea on the scale and timing of the staff recall, and any response from Ukraine on the dispute and embassy operations. The report gives no timetable for resolving the disagreement or restoring the ambassador to Kyiv.
For now, the confirmed position is that Seoul says it will withdraw part of its diplomatic staff, citing both a lack of progress with Kyiv and risks from Russian airstrikes. Any change in staffing, ambassadorial representation, or the governments’ position on the apology remains to be reported.
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Key Questions
Why is South Korea recalling embassy staff from Kyiv?
South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said Ukraine had not taken “positive steps” to resolve a dispute over two North Korean prisoners of war. It also cited ongoing Russian airstrikes and the difficulty of protecting diplomatic staff.
What is the dispute between South Korea and Ukraine about?
The disagreement followed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s public statement that Ukraine had handed two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea. Seoul said the arrangement had been private and that Ukraine initiated it, then sought an official apology.
Has South Korea recalled its ambassador?
Yes. The report says Seoul recalled its ambassador from Ukraine in early October. The newly reported decision concerns the recall of part of the embassy’s other diplomatic staff.
How many embassy employees will leave, and when?
The report does not provide a number or a departure date. It is also unclear which embassy functions will be affected.
Did Ukraine apologize to South Korea?
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha offered an apology during diplomatic consultations, according to the report. South Korea considered that insufficient because it wanted an official public apology.
Source: rss
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