▲ North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) captured by Ukrainian forces meet with a South Korean producer at a POW camp in Ukraine on Oct. 28, 2025, in this file photo released three days later by a Seoul-based group of North Korean defectors. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Oct. 8 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will recall its ambassador to Ukraine, the foreign ministry said Thursday, amid a diplomatic dispute over Kyiv's disclosure of the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) to Seoul.

The Seoul government has demanded an official explanation and apology over Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's recent disclosure of the transfer of the two North Korean soldiers to Seoul, as well as a statement from his office denying that there had been an agreement to keep the matter confidential.

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said Tuesday he had received a message from Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha that included an apology but that it fell short of Seoul's expectations. Cho said the government intended to take "firm measures."

"The government has decided to recall its ambassador to Ukraine to Seoul," the ministry said in a release.

"We hope that various issues between the two countries will be resolved smoothly, and we will continue consultations with the Ukrainian side to that end," it added.

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