South Korea recalled its ambassador to Ukraine over the North Korean prisoner dispute

South Korea recalled its ambassador to Ukraine over the North Korean prisoner dispute

South Korea's Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday, October 8, its decision to recall the country's ambassador from Ukraine, following the deepening of diplomatic tensions between Seoul and Kiev over the disclosure of information about captives.

The decision to summon Park Hye-chang, South Korea's ambassador in Kiev, was made after Seoul asked Ukraine to apologize for revealing the news of the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea.

South Korean officials say Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky violated the confidentiality agreement between the two countries in his September 23 speech to the United Nations General Assembly and the public announcement of this transfer.

On the other hand, Zelensky's office denied the existence of such a confidentiality agreement. This resulted in a sharp response from South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and threats of countermeasures. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Korea announced in a statement: "The government hopes that all existing problems between the two countries will be resolved in a proper manner, and for this purpose it will continue consultation with the Ukrainian side."