South Korea cuts Kyiv embassy staff over prisoner-transfer dispute
South Korea announced another withdrawal of personnel from its Kyiv embassy after the transfer of two North Korean prisoners became public. Seoul says confidentiality had been agreed; officials in Ukraine dispute the arrangement’s scope. The chargé d’affaires and consular team remain, maintaining diplomatic contact and assistance to South Korean nationals after the earlier recall of the ambassador.
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Additional personnel leave Kyiv
South Korea announced a further partial withdrawal of staff from its embassy in Kyiv following a dispute over public disclosure of a North Korean prisoner transfer. The chargé d’affaires and consular personnel will remain at the mission in Ukraine.[1], [2]
The measure follows Seoul’s earlier recall of its ambassador. Foreign ministry spokesman Park Doo-soon did not disclose how many more staff would leave. He said Ukraine had not responded constructively to South Korea’s demands concerning the disclosure.[1]
The two governments differ on confidentiality
Seoul maintains that confidentiality had been agreed and that public disclosure endangered the prisoners and their families. Ukrainian officials have given different accounts of the understanding’s scope. Chargé d’affaires Yoon Ji-wan told a parliamentary audit that there had been no discussion of when the transfer would be made public.[1]
Zelensky announced at the United Nations General Assembly in September that two North Korean prisoners had been sent to South Korea. Ukrainian forces captured the soldiers in Russia’s Kursk region. Both later expressed a wish to settle in the South, according to Aju Press.[1]
Consular assistance continues
The remaining consular team will maintain contact with South Korean nationals, issue safety notices and continue daily safety checks. Assistance will also continue for those wishing to leave Ukraine. Seoul has said it will protect North Korean prisoners who freely choose to come to the South; its constitution treats North Koreans as citizens.[1]
