Seoul recalls Kyiv envoy POW disclosure dispute

Oct 8

TSN reports South Korea's decision to recall its ambassador from Kyiv while continuing consultations and seeking peaceful resolution of outstanding issues. It describes Seoul's accusation that Ukraine breached confidentiality concerning the transfer of two North Korean prisoners captured in Kursk last year. President Lee Jae Myung says secrecy was needed for the prisoners' and families' safety and Seoul demands an apology. Ukraine's presidential office denies that any nondisclosure agreement existed; the Korean foreign minister says apology messages received did not meet expectations. TSN adds that Ukraine has only an acting ambassador in South Korea. The return repeats the recall and dispute. The conflicting confidentiality claims remain attributed, and the broadcast does not establish a resolution or completed ambassador departure.

South Korea announces the recall of its ambassador from Kyiv amid the dispute over disclosure of two North Korean prisoners' transfer. TSN reports Seoul's confidentiality and family-safety concerns and demand for an apology, Ukraine's presidential-office denial of a nondisclosure agreement, and the Korean minister's dissatisfaction with messages received. Consultations are to continue. No resolution or completed envoy departure is established. Vremya's October 8 bulletin reports the same recall after Zelenskyy's UN disclosure, adds its account of Kyiv later calling the dispute a misunderstanding and claims earlier direct South Korean weapons supplies. Its descriptions of disgraceful conduct and lying remain broadcaster characterizations alongside TSN's confidentiality denial and consultations, not independently settled findings.