South Korea has decided to recall its ambassador to Ukraine as a dispute over the public disclosure of North Korean prisoners’ transfer to South Korea continues. The Foreign Ministry said Ambassador Park Gichang would return to Seoul and that consultations with Ukraine would continue to seek a resolution to bilateral issues.
The dispute intensified after Ukraine disclosed the prisoners’ transfer, with the handling of the information and an alleged private understanding emerging as key issues. The government did not announce an end to diplomatic talks with Ukraine.