South Korea says Ukraine's apology over North Korean POW disclosure 'falls short', weighs ambassador recall

South Korea says Ukraine’s apology over its disclosure of the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war falls short of Seoul’s expectations, and the government is weighing firm diplomatic measures — including recalling its ambassador to Kyiv.

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun made the remarks on Tuesday during a parliamentary audit of the foreign ministry at the National Assembly in Seoul, amid a dispute over Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s disclosure of the transfer, which Seoul says both sides had agreed to keep confidential.

“I have been exchanging messages with the Ukrainian foreign minister, who is very troubled by the situation, and I received a message that included words of apology,” Cho told lawmakers.

“But it was somewhat different from the level we had expected, so we intend to take firm measures,” he said.

Asked whether Seoul could recall its ambassador to Ukraine, Park Hee-chang, Cho said the government was considering that option.

The dispute erupted after Zelenskyy publicly revealed in a United Nations speech on Sept. 23 that two North Korean soldiers captured while fighting for Russia in Ukraine had been transferred to South Korea. Seoul maintains the two sides had agreed to keep the move confidential, citing concerns over the safety of the soldiers and their families in North Korea.

Cho said Ukraine had initially requested confidentiality and that Seoul possesses documents or meeting records showing that such an agreement existed. He denied that Seoul had promised weapons or other support to Kyiv in return for the transfer.

When questioned about the reasons for Zelenskyy’s disclosure, Cho offered his personal opinion that the Ukrainian president wanted to show UN members that Ukraine acted as a free and democratic country.