South Korea has recalled its ambassador to Ukraine following Kyiv’s revelation that it handed over two North Korean soldiers captured in Russia’s service, sparking a diplomatic crisis between the allies.
The Foreign Ministry announced the recall in a brief statement, expressing hope that outstanding issues would be resolved smoothly. No timeline was provided for Ambassador Park Hee-chang’s return, though officials indicated ongoing consultations with Kyiv. The decision came after weeks of escalating rhetoric between Seoul and Kyiv over the handling of the January transfer.
Dispute Over Secrecy Agreement
The conflict traces back to September 23, when President Volodymyr Zelenskiy informed the UN General Assembly that Ukraine had handed over two North Korean soldiers captured in Russia’s Kursk region in January 2025. Seoul claims both sides agreed to keep the transfer secret to safeguard the soldiers and their families in North Korea, asserting that Kyiv itself requested confidentiality. The presidential office voiced strong regret on September 27 over what it called Ukraine’s denial of that agreement, and the Foreign Ministry summoned Ukraine’s envoy the following day.
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Ukraine disputes this narrative. Presidential communications adviser Dmytro Lytvyn denied any non-disclosure agreement existed, prompting South Korea’s presidential office to voice strong regret on September 27.
Mounting Pressure and Sanctions Concerns
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung warned on October 2 of “further measures” unless Ukraine acknowledged the agreement and issued an apology. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha characterized the dispute as a “diplomatic misunderstanding” but stopped short of a formal apology.
On October 6, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun told parliament that Sybiha’s message included words of apology but fell below Seoul’s expectations. Cho stated, “We intend to take firm measures,” with aid cuts and additional recalls under consideration. The Korea Times reported that a recall and cuts to aid were among the options under review.
Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhii Tykhyi clarified on October 7 that both sides agreed on transfer details but disagreed on interpreting confidentiality. He emphasized that Kyiv acted based on the prisoners’ written consent and a bilateral agreement between leaders. Kyiv had not publicly responded to the recall at the time of reporting.
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Fuel Shipments Add Complexity
The diplomatic fallout coincides with scrutiny over fuel shipments from South Korean ports to Russia. An investigation by The Guardian revealed over 176,000 tonnes of diesel loaded in July and August, with seven tankers completing 14 voyages—three vessels subject to UK or EU sanctions. One of the sanctioned vessels took on its cargo in a ship-to-ship transfer in South Korean waters, which obscures its origin.
South Korea’s presidential office dismissed claims that the trade contradicted its sanctions stance as “inaccurate and inappropriate.” A joint statement from the Foreign Ministry, trade ministry, and customs authority confirmed that refined petroleum products, including diesel and jet fuel, are not currently subject to export controls on Russia. They also noted no fuel exports to Russia had cleared customs since 2025 through August. The ministry said it had not established whether the fuel loaded at South Korean ports was of South Korean origin and was checking the vessels’ routes.
The Russian shipments began around the time Lee pledged $100mn for Ukraine’s reconstruction at the Nato summit in Turkey in July, the Kyiv Post noted. Meanwhile, the two North Korean soldiers remain under National Intelligence Service protection. Vladyslav Vlasiuk, Zelenskiy’s commissioner for sanctions policy, wrote on Facebook on October 6 that the shipments stood in “stark contrast” to South Korea’s sanctions policy and that imports from South Korea “effectively helped offset the impact of Russia’s loss of domestic refining capacity”.
