Why South Korea has fallen out with Ukraine but seeks reconciliation with North Korea: Korean expert explains

What Happened

On 23 September 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced at the UN General Assembly that Ukraine had transferred two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea. The soldiers had been captured by Ukrainian forces in Russia's Kursk Oblast in January 2025. South Korea had previously advocated for such transfers, but on 24 September President Lee Jae-myung publicly accused Ukraine of violating a confidentiality agreement, saying the transfer was supposed to remain undisclosed to protect the prisoners and their families in North Korea. Ukraine denied that any confidentiality agreement existed. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called the dispute a diplomatic misunderstanding; South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun confirmed receiving a letter of apology but said it fell short of Seoul's expectations. On 2 October, Lee Jae-myung threatened further measures unless Kyiv acknowledged the breach and issued a public apology, and criticized Ukrainian statements about the risk of military conflict on the Korean Peninsula. On 8 October, South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the recall of its ambassador to Ukraine, Park Ki-chang, to Seoul.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The diplomatic rupture marks the most serious political crisis in Ukrainian-South Korean relations since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022. It threatens previously announced South Korean non-military assistance—including US$100 million announced in July and a framework allowing up to US$2.1 billion in preferential loans for Ukraine's reconstruction by 2029. The dispute also exposes a divergence: Seoul is seeking inter-Korean dialogue and improved ties with Moscow, while North Korea is gaining combat experience in Russia's war and receiving military technology, potentially shifting the balance of power on the Korean Peninsula.

Watch For

Monitor whether South Korea imposes further measures unless Ukraine issues a public apology and acknowledges the alleged breach, and whether Ambassador Park Ki-chang returns to Kyiv. Watch for any official Ukrainian response to Lee Jae-myung's criticism of statements about inter-Korean military conflict. Also track whether Seoul's reconciliation push with Pyongyang yields any reciprocal dialogue, and whether North Korea's troop deployment and military technology transfers from Russia continue or expand.