South Korea withdraws eight diplomatic personnel from Ukraine after a dispute over Kyiv’s disclosure of the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun says Seoul still communicates with Ukraine’s foreign ministry and maintains essential embassy operations, while Seoul’s broader support for Ukraine continues.
The dispute centers on Kyiv’s public disclosure of the transfer of the two North Korean soldiers to South Korea during Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s address at the UN General Assembly in September. Seoul has demanded an official explanation, an apology, and assurances against recurrence, arguing Ukraine failed to take steps to resolve the matter. Several outlets also note that South Korea previously recalled its ambassador to Ukraine earlier in the month and that persistent risks from Russian airstrikes and the lack of resolution influenced the partial withdrawal.
Across the reports, the core facts—how many personnel are withdrawn, who explains it, and that the disagreement relates to disclosure of a North Korea POW transfer—are consistent. The emphasis differs on the status of negotiations and on additional context such as airstrike threats and ambassador recall details.
