South Korea recalls ambassador to Ukraine amid North Korean POW dispute
publishers 37articles 49first reported 26 Sep, 11:10 UTCdeveloping since 30 Sep · 27 editions
South Korea said Thursday it would recall its ambassador to Ukraine amid a dispute over Kyiv’s disclosure that two captured North Korean soldiers had been transferred to Seoul.
The South Korean Foreign Ministry said it hoped outstanding issues would be resolved smoothly and that consultations with Ukraine would continue. Seoul has demanded an official explanation and public apology after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed the transfer during an address to the U.N. General Assembly last month.
South Korean officials say the countries had agreed to keep the transfer confidential to protect the soldiers and their families in North Korea. Ukrainian officials have denied that such an agreement existed. President Lee Jae Myung has warned of further measures if Kyiv does not acknowledge Seoul’s account and apologize publicly.
The soldiers were captured in January 2025 while fighting alongside Russian forces in the Kursk region and arrived in South Korea in mid-September, according to South Korean officials.
South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said he received a message from Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha containing an apology, but that it fell short of Seoul’s expectations. A Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson characterized Sybiha’s message as an expression of regret over the dispute’s escalation. Sybiha has called the episode a “diplomatic misunderstanding” and said Ukraine wanted to maintain cooperation with South Korea.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 5 with the publisher's own text; 7 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 180 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 37
- Source articles
- 49
- Given to the writer
- 8, 5 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 7
- This version written
- 180 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and published it as written.
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