South Korea recalls ambassador to Ukraine in North Korean prisoner of war row

South Korea recalled its ambassador to Ukraine on Wednesday over Kyiv's public disclosure of the repatriation of two North Korean prisoners of war, in a continued public dispute between the two countries.

Seoul's foreign ministry announced it was recalling ambassador Park Ki-chan, citing the unauthorised disclosure of information about the handover.

The ministry said it hoped to resolve outstanding issues through continued consultations and that the South Korean embassy in Kyiv would remain open.

The dispute began on 23 September, when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated at the UN General Assembly that North Korean soldiers captured fighting on Russia's side had been repatriated.

Seoul argues the disclosure endangered the soldiers' families in North Korea, where the regime is known to punish the relatives of defectors and those who fall into enemy hands.

Ukraine rejected the accusations. Zelenskyy's adviser Dmytro Lytvyn said at the end of September that no confidentiality agreement existed.

"There was no such agreement, that is not true. And it would be wrong to conceal what happens to particular prisoners," he wrote on social media.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described it as a diplomatic misunderstanding and expressed hope for a swift resolution.

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung had previously warned of "additional measures" if Kyiv did not acknowledge a breach of a confidentiality agreement and issue a public apology.

On Tuesday, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said Seoul had received an apology from Ukraine, but it fell short of what his country expected.