South Korea to reduce Ukraine embassy staff as POW dispute deepens
publishers 49articles 85first reported 26 Sep, 11:10 UTCdeveloping since 30 Sep · 27 editions
South Korea said Tuesday it will withdraw roughly half of its embassy personnel from Ukraine, citing Kyiv’s response to a dispute over two North Korean prisoners of war and continuing airstrike risks.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Park Doo-soon said Ukraine had taken no constructive steps after Seoul recalled Ambassador Park Ki-chang earlier this month. The timing of the staff reduction will depend on security conditions and diplomatic consultations. A chargé d’affaires and all consular personnel will remain in Kyiv to maintain diplomatic communications and assist South Korean nationals.
The dispute began after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced at the United Nations General Assembly on September 23 that Ukraine had transferred two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea. The soldiers, captured in Russia’s Kursk region in January 2025 while fighting alongside Russian forces, arrived in South Korea in mid-September.
Seoul says the countries had agreed to keep the transfer confidential to protect the soldiers and their families in North Korea. Kyiv initially denied that a confidentiality agreement existed. South Korea has requested an official explanation, a public apology and assurances that the incident will not recur.
South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said a message from Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha contained apologetic language but did not meet Seoul’s expectations. Ukraine has said diplomacy should prevail and has described the matter as resolved.
Despite the dispute, South Korea has said it will continue supporting Ukraine while pursuing bilateral consultations aimed at restoring trust.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 8 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 468 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 49
- Source articles
- 85
- Given to the writer
- 8, 8 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 468 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
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- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
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