From NPR · · 1m 50s
South Korea recalls ambassador over North Korean POW row
Seoul escalates its dispute with Ukraine after President Zelenskyy publicly revealed a secret transfer of North Korean soldiers.
In brief
Seoul escalates its dispute with Ukraine after President Zelenskyy publicly revealed a secret transfer of North Korean soldiers. South Korea is recalling its ambassador to Ukraine in protest over Zelenskyy's public disclosure of two North Korean prisoners of war transferred to Seoul, violating what Seoul says was a…
Seoul escalates Ukraine row
South Korea said Thursday it will recall its ambassador to Ukraine, Park Hee-chang, stepping up its protest against President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's recent public revelation of a secret transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea.
What triggered the dispute
South Korea and Ukraine became embroiled in a diplomatic row after Zelenskyy spoke about the transfer of North Korean soldiers during his U.N. speech on September twenty-third. South Korea has accused Ukraine of violating a nondisclosure agreement on their transfer in mid-September, but Kyiv has denied agreeing to such a deal.
Why the soldiers came to Seoul
The soldiers were among thousands of North Korean troops deployed to support Russia's war against Ukraine. Since their capture in early twenty twenty-five, they expressed desires to resettle in South Korea, fearing persecution if repatriated home. South Korea accepted them, regarding the North as part of its territory.
Seoul's concerns about disclosure
South Korean officials said the nondisclosure agreement was made because they were concerned about the safety of the North Korean soldiers and their relatives in the North. But many experts say South Korea's liberal government likely also worries the disclosure may hurt its efforts to improve ties with North Korea.
What's at stake for Seoul
Experts say maintaining good relations with Ukraine is in South Korean national interests because Kyiv could provide Seoul with intelligence about North Korea's expanding cooperation with Russia. Cooperation with Ukraine is also important for South Korea's partnerships with many Western countries supporting Ukraine over the war.
The takeaway
South Korea is recalling its ambassador to Ukraine in protest over Zelenskyy's public disclosure of two North Korean prisoners of war transferred to Seoul, violating what Seoul says was a nondisclosure agreement.
