سيئول تستدعي سفيرها من أوكرانيا.. أزمة الأسرى تصعّد التوتر الدبلوماسي

South Korea announced today (Thursday) the recall of its ambassador to Ukraine, following a diplomatic dispute between the two countries regarding Kyiv's revelation about the transfer of two North Korean soldiers captured during fighting in Russia, a move that reflects the rising tensions between Seoul and Kyiv.

The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Seoul hopes to resolve the current disagreements with Ukraine and continue negotiations through diplomatic channels, without providing further details regarding the decision to recall the ambassador.

South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin revealed that Seoul received an apology letter from Ukraine regarding the disclosure of the transfer of the two prisoners to South Korea, but he clarified that the apology did not meet the expectations of the Korean government.

During a parliamentary session to review the work of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Park stated that the messages he received from his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha included an apology, but he emphasized that Seoul intends to take "firm measures," noting the ongoing communication between the two sides to contain the dispute.

Seoul is demanding an official explanation and an apology from Kyiv after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed last month the transfer of the two prisoners to South Korea, while his office later denied the existence of an agreement to keep the operation confidential.

Park confirmed that there was an agreement from the beginning to keep the transfer of the prisoners confidential, aimed at protecting the two soldiers and their families in North Korea, indicating that the Ukrainian side had originally requested not to disclose the operation.

The Ukrainian Foreign Minister described the issue as a "diplomatic misunderstanding," expressing hope for a swift resolution, while Park, offering a personal interpretation, suggested that Zelensky's announcement of the operation might be linked to Kyiv's desire to demonstrate its stance before the United Nations as a liberal democratic state.

The two North Korean soldiers were captured by Ukrainian forces in January 2025, after being deployed in the Kursk region of Russia among thousands of North Korean soldiers sent to support Moscow in the war against Ukraine, before being transferred to South Korea in mid-September.

Seoul is seeking to contain the dispute through diplomatic channels, emphasizing the importance of maintaining its relations with Kyiv.