South Korea to Withdraw Embassy Staff From Kyiv Amid Diplomatic Dispute

South Korea announced Tuesday that it will withdraw some staff from its embassy in Kyiv, escalating a diplomatic dispute with Ukraine. The conflict stems from Ukraine's public disclosure last month of the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war, an act Seoul claims violated a non-disclosure agreement.

The disagreement began after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed the prisoners' transfer during a Sept. 23 speech at the United Nations. South Korea has accused Ukraine of breaching a confidentiality agreement, while Ukraine denies that such a deal was ever reached, further intensifying Seoul's frustration.

In response to the situation, South Korea had previously recalled its ambassador to Ukraine earlier this month. A spokesperson for Ukraine's Foreign Ministry stated at the time that Kyiv remained open to "constructive dialogue" and that "diplomacy must prevail over emotions."

Park Doosoon, a spokesperson for South Korea's Foreign Ministry, explained that the decision to withdraw additional embassy personnel was prompted by Ukraine's "lack of constructive steps" to address Seoul's concerns, as well as growing safety worries due to escalating Russian attacks. Park did not specify the number of staff to be withdrawn or the timeline for their departure, but confirmed that essential personnel, including the charge d'affaires, would remain in Kyiv to maintain communication with Ukrainian authorities and assist South Korean citizens.

"We are still maintaining communication, and, as I mentioned earlier, our goal is to seek an amicable resolution through close consultation with the Ukrainian side," Park said. "We conveyed our clear position and requests over the pending issues between the two countries through various channels. It’s now up to the Ukrainian side to provide a response or take appropriate action on those matters."

The two soldiers transferred to South Korea were reportedly among thousands of North Korean troops deployed in support of Russia's war in Ukraine. Captured in early 2025, they expressed a desire to resettle in South Korea, fearing repercussions if returned to North Korea. South Korea, which asserts constitutional claim over the entire Korean Peninsula, has a long-standing practice of accepting and financially supporting North Korean defectors.

South Korean officials indicated that the non-disclosure agreement was intended to protect the soldiers and their families in North Korea. However, some analysts suggest that the administration may have also been concerned that publicizing the transfer could jeopardize its efforts to improve relations with North Korea.

North Korea's state media has not commented on the transfer. Historically, Pyongyang has reacted strongly to high-profile defections, sometimes accusing Seoul of abduction.

Relations between North and South Korea have significantly deteriorated in recent years, with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un adopting a hard-line policy toward Seoul and pursuing advancements in his nuclear weapons program amidst a diplomatic impasse with the United States.