South Korea to recall its ambassador to Ukraine over North Korean POW dispute
South Korea is recalling its ambassador to Ukraine following a diplomatic dispute over the public disclosure of North Korean prisoners of war. The tension stems from a disagreement regarding a non-disclosure agreement concerning the transfer of these soldiers.
Why it matters
The incident underscores the delicate geopolitical balance South Korea maintains regarding its relationship with North Korea and its international alliances during the ongoing war in Ukraine.
SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea said Thursday it will recall its ambassador to Ukraine, stepping up its protest against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's recent revelation of a supposedly secret transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea.
The South Korean announcement came days after its President Lee Jae Myung threatened to take unspecified punitive steps if Ukraine refuses to apologize over the revelation.
South Korea's Foreign Ministry didn't say when the ambassador, Park Hee-chang, will be brought back home. A ministry statement said that South Korea will continue consultations with Ukraine, adding it hopes the dispute between the two countries would be resolved smoothly.
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