South Korea decides to withdraw some staff from its embassy in Ukraine
Quick Look
- South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on the 20th that it would withdraw some personnel from its embassy in Ukraine due to dissatisfaction with Ukraine's disclosure of the transfer of North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea and the recall of its ambassador.
- South Korea said that Ukraine did not respond proactively and that the entire territory of Ukraine continued to face the threat of air strikes, making it difficult to ensure personnel safety.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
In late September, Ukrainian President Zelensky announced the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea. South Korea accused him of violating the confidentiality agreement and demanded an apology.
China News Service, Seoul, October 20 (Reporter Kim Wook) In response to South Korea recalling its ambassador to Ukraine due to dissatisfaction with Ukraine's disclosure of the transfer of North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea, South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on the 20th local time that it would withdraw some personnel from the South Korean embassy in Ukraine.
South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesperson Park Doo-soon said at a regular press conference that day that after the South Korean government recalled its ambassador to Ukraine, Ukraine has still not taken active response measures. Considering that the entire territory of Ukraine continues to face the threat of air strikes and the difficulty of ensuring personnel safety, the South Korean government decided to withdraw some personnel from the South Korean Embassy in Ukraine.
Park Douchun said that despite the evacuation of some personnel, South Korea will continue to maintain necessary diplomatic communication between the two countries.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the specific evacuation time of some personnel of the South Korean Embassy in Ukraine has not yet been determined. The South Korean government plans to assist the evacuation of about 85 Korean overseas Chinese in Ukraine to neighboring countries before arranging the evacuation of embassy personnel.
In late September, Ukrainian President Zelensky announced the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea. South Korea believes that this move violated the confidentiality agreement reached by both parties, seriously damaged the trust between the two governments, and demanded an apology from Ukraine. South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also previously expressed "strong regret" and believed that Kyiv's unilateral actions "severely damaged the trust between the two governments."
On October 7, a spokesman for the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that there were differences in the understanding of confidentiality methods between the two parties, resulting in "misunderstandings." On the 8th, South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs decided to recall South Korea’s ambassador to Ukraine.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Assist Korean nationals in Ukraine to evacuate to neighboring countries
Very likely · Within days
Open Questions
- When is the specific evacuation time of the South Korean Embassy in Ukraine?
- When will the diplomatic relations between the two countries return to normal?
