South Korea to pull more embassy staff from Ukraine after POW row

Earlier this month, South Korea recalled its ambassador from Kyiv aft Zelenskyy disclosed the captive transfer.

South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it volition retreat further embassy unit from Ukraine pursuing Kyiv’s deficiency of “constructive response” successful a quality astir North Korean prisoners of warfare (POWs).

Seoul had told Kyiv of its presumption via aggregate channels but had not received a capable effect from Ukraine, ministry spokesperson Park Doo-soon said connected Tuesday.

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Earlier this month, South Korea recalled its ambassador from Kyiv aft President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) that Ukraine had transferred 2 captured North Korean soldiers to the South.

The disclosure angered Seoul, which said the cognition should person remained confidential to support the soldiers’ families successful North Korea.

“This measurement was taken due to the fact that we judged it indispensable to facilitate an amicable solution of the contented and reconstruct spot betwixt the 2 countries,” Park told a regular property briefing, without saying however galore unit members would leave.

A complaint d’affaires would enactment connected successful Kyiv to support diplomatic connection on with each consular unit to support South Korean nationals, Park added.

Persistent threats of aerial strikes crossed Ukraine had besides made it hard to guarantee unit safety, helium said.

Seoul antecedently summoned the Ukrainian ambassador and threatened unspecified “further measures”.

‘Situation resolved’

Ukraine has insisted that “diplomacy indispensable prevail implicit emotions” successful relations betwixt the countries, and besides said Kyiv considered “the concern resolved”.

South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said earlier this period that Ukraine had sent a connection that “included words of apology” implicit Zelenskyy’s disclosure, but it fell abbreviated of “the level” Seoul had successful mind.

Under South Korea’s constitution, each North Koreans are considered citizens of the Republic of Korea, arsenic the state is officially known, and those who scope its territory and question to defect are mostly allowed to stay.