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South Korea reduces diplomatic staff in Ukraine after troop-transfer dispute
South Korea decided to withdraw some diplomatic staff from its embassy after a dispute over the transfer of two North Korean soldiers and amid the threat of airstrikes in Ukraine. Seoul said communication would continue through the chargé d’affaires, while consular staff would remain on duty to protect South Korean citizens.
Security conditions in Ukraine and a dispute with Kyiv over the transfer of two North Korean soldiers prompted Seoul to reduce its embassy staff. South Korea decided to withdraw some of its diplomatic personnel from Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced in his address to the United Nations General Assembly on September 23 that the two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukraine had been sent to South Korea. Following the development, South Korea’s ambassador to Ukraine, Park Ki-chang, was recalled on October 8.
Seoul argued that a confidentiality agreement aimed at keeping the details of the transfer secret and protecting the families of the soldiers in North Korea had been violated. Ukrainian officials said no such agreement existed. South Korea objected to Ukraine’s statement.
Seoul cited staff safety
South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesperson Park Du-sun said the decision to withdraw some staff was made because of the continuing threat of airstrikes across Ukraine and the difficulty of ensuring their safety.
The government decided to withdraw some diplomatic personnel in view of the continuing threat of airstrikes across Ukraine and the difficulty of ensuring their safety
Park Du-sun also said that Ukraine had not taken sufficient measures to strengthen security after the ambassador was recalled.
Diplomatic communication will continue through the chargé d’affaires. All consular staff, however, will remain at their posts in Ukraine to protect South Korean citizens abroad.
Transfer of two North Korean soldiers heightened tensions
According to assessments by South Korean and Western intelligence agencies, North Korea deployed thousands of troops to support Russia’s war in Ukraine. Ukraine’s transfer of the two North Korean soldiers it captured to South Korea led to a dispute between Seoul and Kyiv over the existence and scope of a confidentiality agreement.
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