North Korean POWs Spark Diplomatic Rift as Seoul Ambassador Returns from Ukraine

South Korea's ambassador to Ukraine returned to his country on Saturday, according to the Foreign Ministry in Seoul, amid an escalating diplomatic dispute over the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul.

The ministry said in a statement sent to Agence France-Presse: "We inform you that Park Ki-chang, our ambassador to Ukraine, returned to the country this morning."

Escalating Disputes
South Korea recalled its ambassador to Ukraine on Thursday after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed last month before the UN General Assembly that his country had handed over two North Korean soldiers to Seoul after capturing them while they were fighting alongside the Russian army.

This sparked anger in South Korea, which considered that Zelenskyy had violated an agreement to ensure confidentiality in this matter. Seoul summoned Kyiv's ambassador and threatened to take "additional measures" whose nature was not specified at the time, while President Lee Jae-myung demanded a formal apology due to fears that revealing the information could endanger the families of the prisoners of war.

Ukrainian Criticism
Seoul's decision also comes following revelations by the British newspaper "The Guardian" this week that 176,000 tons of products, "mainly diesel," were shipped from South Korea to Russia during July and August, which drew criticism from Kyiv.

In Kyiv, the spokesperson for the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry told journalists on Thursday, "We are convinced that diplomacy must prevail over emotion," expressing hope for a "constructive dialogue" with Seoul.