South Korea recalls part of diplomatic staff from Ukraine
A diplomatic scandal between South Korea and Ukraine arose after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly stated that Kyiv had handed over two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea.
Consensus
- South Korea has decided to recall part of its diplomatic personnel from Ukraine.
- The decision follows a diplomatic dispute over Ukraine's public disclosure of transferring two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea.
- South Korea previously recalled its ambassador from Ukraine.
- South Korea claims there was a prior agreement not to publicly disclose the transfer of the North Korean prisoners.
- South Korea cites ongoing Russian air attacks in Ukraine as a factor affecting the safety of its diplomatic staff.
- South Korea will maintain necessary diplomatic communication with Ukraine through a chargé d'affaires.
- A consular staff will remain in Ukraine.
- The dispute began when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the transfer of the prisoners at the UN General Assembly.
Points of divergence
- South Korea's President Lee Jeong-myeon stated that the level of apologies from Ukraine did not meet expectations and that South Korea expected an apology from Zelensky personally. — tg_theinsider
- Ukraine denied that Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha had apologized to South Korea. — tg_theinsider
- South Korea's President Lee Jeong-myeong threatened additional measures if Ukraine did not acknowledge the confidentiality agreement and issue formal apologies. — vedomosti
- South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Hyun stated that Ukraine sent a message containing words of apology, but South Korea deemed it insufficient. — tg_dwglavnoe
- Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha apologized during diplomatic consultations, not publicly. — meduza
- South Korea claims the agreement on confidentiality was made because of concerns for the safety of the prisoners and their relatives in North Korea. — tg_echoonline_news
- South Korea claims Ukraine itself requested confidentiality during the transfer of the prisoners. — vedomosti
- Ukraine maintains that no confidentiality agreement existed between the two countries. — tg_theinsider
Coverage (13 sources)
- South Korea decided to recall part of its diplomatic personnel from Ukraine. Earlier it had already recalled the ambassador — ЭХО / Новости
- South Korea to cut Kyiv embassy staff following ambassador recall. Seoul still awaits Ukraine's 'constructive steps' after prisoner-of-war scandal. — Meduza
- South Korea recalls part of its diplomats from Ukraine following the ambassador — Радио Свобода
- South Korean authorities decided to recall part of their diplomatic personnel from Kyiv — Интерфакс
- South Korea recalls part of diplomatic staff from Ukraine. Earlier Seoul recalled ambassador from Kyiv over scandal with North Korean captives — The Insider
- South Korea recalls part of its diplomats from Ukraine following the ambassador — Настоящее Время
- South Korea decided to recall part of its diplomatic staff from Ukraine — Ведомости
- Following the ambassador: Seoul recalls other embassy staff in Kyiv — DW Главное
- South Korea recalls its ambassador from Ukraine. Earlier the country stated that Kyiv did not apologize enough. The South Korean government decided to recall its ambassador from Kyiv in the wake of a conflict over the disclosure of data on the movement of North Korean prisoners of war. About this... — ASTRA
- Yonhap: South Korea recalls part of embassy staff from Ukraine — Вечерняя Москва
- South Korea recalled part of its diplomats from Ukraine — Вести
- South Korea recalls part of its diplomats from Ukraine — Фонтанка
- South Korea recalls part of embassy staff in Ukraine — Коммерсантъ
Key entities
- Ukraine
- South Korea
- Kyiv
- Seoul
- MID
- Park Du Sun
- Yonhap
- Ryonhap
- Moscow
- Government
- Reuters
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy
- DPR
- Republic of Korea
- INTERFAX.RU