South Korea Reduces Embassy Staff in Kyiv After Row With Ukraine

South Korea has decided to withdraw some diplomatic staff from its embassy in Kyiv following recent tensions with Ukraine over the transfer of two captured North Korean soldiers.

The decision was made after South Korea’s ambassador to Ukraine, Park Ki-chang, was recalled to Seoul on Oct. 16.

The dispute began after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told the UN General Assembly on Oct. 1 that two North Korean prisoners had been transferred to South Korea. South Korea has accused Ukraine of violating a confidentiality agreement designed to protect the lives of the prisoners and their families, while Ukrainian officials deny that such an agreement exists.

Park Doo-sun, a spokesperson for South Korea’s foreign ministry, cited the growing threat of airstrikes across Ukraine and a lack of security guarantees for diplomatic staff as reasons for reducing the embassy’s personnel. According to him, despite recalling the ambassador, expectations of preventive action from Ukraine were not met.

Diplomatic contact will continue through the acting ambassador, and consular staff will also remain in the country to protect the rights of South Korean citizens.

South Korea and Western countries have also assessed that North Korea has sent thousands of troops to support Russia’s war in Ukraine.