South Korea has summoned Ukraine's ambassador in a row over North Korean prisoners of war, after President Volodymyr Zelensky publicly revealed a transfer that Seoul says was intended to remain secret.
Key facts
- South Korea summoned Ukraine's envoy over the dispute.
- Ukraine had sent two captured North Koreans to South Korea.
- President Zelensky revealed the transfer last week.
- Seoul says the transfer was meant to be kept secret.
South Korea has summoned Ukraine’s envoy amid a diplomatic row over North Korean prisoners of war, according to the BBC. The dispute centres on the handling and disclosure of a transfer of captured North Korean nationals from Ukraine to South Korea.
Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed that Ukraine had sent two captured North Koreans to South Korea. The public disclosure of that transfer is at the heart of the current tensions between the two governments.
According to Seoul, the transfer was meant to be a secret. The decision by the Ukrainian president to reveal it publicly has prompted South Korea to call in Ukraine’s envoy in response.
The summoning of an ambassador is a formal diplomatic step typically used by governments to register displeasure or to seek an explanation over a specific matter. In this case, it reflects Seoul’s concern over how the prisoner-of-war transfer became public.
The two captured North Koreans were sent from Ukraine, where North Korean personnel have been reported in connection with the wider conflict. Their transfer to South Korea, and the manner in which it was disclosed, has now become a point of friction between Kyiv and Seoul.
Why it matters
The row highlights the sensitivities surrounding North Korean nationals caught up in the conflict involving Ukraine, and how their fate is handled diplomatically. Disagreements over secrecy and disclosure can strain relations between countries that might otherwise be aligned on security concerns.
Frequently asked questions
Why did South Korea summon Ukraine's envoy?
According to the BBC, Seoul summoned Ukraine's envoy over a row concerning North Korean prisoners of war, after President Zelensky publicly revealed a transfer that South Korea says was meant to be secret.
What did President Zelensky reveal?
Last week, Zelensky revealed that Ukraine had sent two captured North Koreans to South Korea.
Why is the disclosure a problem?
Seoul says the transfer of the two captured North Koreans was meant to be kept secret, and its public disclosure has become the source of the dispute.