South Korea and Ukraine resume ministerial talks after prisoner dispute
South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met Ukraine’s Andrii Sybiha in Paris for their first face-to-face talks since a dispute over disclosure of a prisoner transfer. Seoul stressed trust and compliance with agreements while maintaining humanitarian and reconstruction support. Sybiha called for further steps towards normal relations. Neither government’s account mentioned the apology Seoul has sought.
Geopolitics··Midday
The foreign ministers meet again in Paris
South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha met in Paris on 10 November alongside the Group of Seven foreign ministers’ gathering. It was their first face-to-face meeting since diplomatic friction over the public disclosure of two North Korean prisoners’ transfer to South Korea. Cho stressed mutual respect, trust and faithful implementation of agreements.[1], [2]
Sybiha called for continued diplomacy to manage and develop stable relations, and said further steps lay ahead towards full normalisation. South Korea’s ministry said Cho hoped outstanding issues would be resolved smoothly. Neither government’s readout mentioned the apology Seoul has demanded over disclosure of the transfer, leaving that element of the dispute unresolved in the public accounts.[2]
Diplomatic relations deteriorated after the prisoner disclosure
The dispute began after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told the United Nations General Assembly in September that two North Korean soldiers captured while fighting for Russia had been transferred to South Korea. Seoul said disclosure breached an agreement to keep the transfer confidential and sought an apology and measures to prevent a recurrence. Kyiv denied that such a confidentiality agreement existed.[1], [2]
South Korea recalled its ambassador to Ukraine in October. It later decided to withdraw half of its diplomatic staff from Kyiv, citing both the dispute and the continuing danger of air strikes. A diplomatic source told Korea JoongAng Daily that communication had continued behind the scenes after the ambassador’s recall and that the governments were seeking common ground.[2]
Humanitarian and reconstruction support continues
Cho reaffirmed that Seoul would continue exploring humanitarian assistance and support for Ukraine’s reconstruction. Sybiha thanked South Korea and sought close consultation with the wider international community on peace. He also welcomed Korean businesses’ involvement in recovery. South Korea has included $100 million for Ukraine in its budget proposal for next year, following a pledge by President Lee Jae Myung at the NATO summit in July.[1], [2]
