South Korea recalls some diplomatic staff from Ukraine over POW dispute
South Korea has decided to recall some of its diplomatic staff from Ukraine due to what Seoul considers a lack of positive steps by Kyiv to resolve a dispute over the public disclosure of information regarding the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war, as well as the ongoing risk of Russian airstrikes.
Source: Yonhap, a South Korean news agency, citing Park Doo-soon, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Korea
Details: Park Doo-soon said at a regular press briefing that Ukraine has yet to take "positive steps" to resolve the diplomatic dispute regarding Kyiv's unilateral disclosure of the news that two North Korean POWs had been transferred to Seoul, and that persistent threats of airstrikes make it difficult to ensure the safety of diplomatic personnel.
Despite this partial recall, the spokesperson noted that South Korea will maintain the necessary diplomatic contact with Ukraine led by a chargé d'affaires ad interim, adding that all consular staff will remain in the country to continue efforts to protect South Korean citizens.
Earlier in October, South Korea recalled its ambassador to Ukraine, Park Ki-chang, as Seoul expressed regret over Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's public disclosure of the transfer of the North Korean prisoners of war.
Seoul is demanding an official explanation and an apology from Ukraine regarding Zelenskyy's disclosure of the information. However, the Office of the President of Ukraine has denied that there was any agreement to maintain confidentiality on the matter.
Background:
- South Korean President Lee Jae-myung said Ukraine had breached a non-disclosure agreement by publicly revealing the transfer of the two North Korean POWs to South Korea and that making the information public could lead to numerous problems.
- Zelenskyy's communications adviser, Dmytro Lytvyn, denied that Ukraine had breached any non-disclosure agreement with South Korea.
- However, the South Korean president's office demanded an official explanation and apology from Ukraine for disclosing the transfer.
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