South Korea recalls ambassador from Ukraine over North Korean prisoners

The dispute centres on the disclosure of a prisoner transfer, rather than a reported disagreement about conditions in captivity. Two North Korean prisoners of war were transferred to Seoul, and Kyiv made that transfer public, BBC World reported.

According to DER SPIEGEL, President Selenskyj's recent speech at the United Nations triggered the row. Seoul accused Kyiv of violating a confidential agreement.

The October 8 coverage describes a dispute that had already escalated before the ambassador's recall. Japan Times reported that the countries had been at loggerheads since Zelenskyy disclosed the transfer. The supplied reports do not give the date of the transfer or disclosure.

Seoul said publicity endangered the two prisoners' families in North Korea, where relatives of people who fall into enemy hands face punishment, according to Euronews. That concern explains why Seoul objected to making the arrangement public.

South Korea demanded an apology but had not received one, Deutsche Welle reported on October 8. On the same day, South Korea said it would recall its ambassador to Ukraine in response to the deepening dispute, according to South China Morning Post.

The announced recall takes the disagreement beyond a public exchange of accusations. BBC World described it as the latest step in the diplomatic spat over the two prisoners.

The supplied coverage does not say when the ambassador will leave Ukraine, how long the recall will last or whether the countries have agreed on a way to resolve the dispute.

The immediate issues are the timing and duration of the recall, and whether Kyiv responds to Seoul's demand for an apology. Deutsche Welle reported that the demand remained unmet when the recall was announced.