South Korea's foreign ministry said on Oct. 20 it will withdraw some staff from
its embassy in Ukraine. The move follows Ukrainian president Zelenskiy's
late-September announcement that Kyiv transferred two North Korean prisoners of
war to South Korea. South Korea's president Lee said on Oct. 2 Ukraine breached
a confidentiality agreement and demanded an apology; Seoul earlier said it
strongly regretted the unilateral action and that it had seriously damaged
bilateral trust. Seoul recalled its ambassador to Ukraine on Oct. 8. A Ukrainian
foreign ministry spokesman said on Oct. 7 the parties had a difference in
understanding over confidentiality and Kyiv on Oct. 8 expressed willingness to
resume constructive dialogue.
