Red line metro traffic restored in Kyiv after shelling, but with a restriction

South Korea has decided to further reduce the staff of its embassy in Ukraine amid a diplomatic conflict over the transfer of two captured North Korean soldiers. Seoul said it has not yet received a response from Kyiv that would allow the dispute to be resolved.

This was reported on October 20 by the spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Korea, Park Du-sun, during a briefing, according to Yonhap.

According to the ministry representative, the Ukrainian side has not yet taken sufficient steps to resolve the disagreements related to the public disclosure of information about the transfer of prisoners of war from the DPRK.

Another reason for the reduction of diplomatic personnel, Seoul cited the threat of Russian air attacks. The Foreign Ministry noted that constant shelling of Ukraine complicates ensuring the safety of embassy staff.

At the same time, South Korea does not plan to stop the work of its diplomatic mission in Kyiv. Contacts with Ukrainian authorities will be maintained at the level of chargé d'affaires ad interim.

All employees of the consular section will remain in Ukraine to continue providing necessary assistance to South Korean citizens. The number of diplomats to be recalled is currently not specified.

This is the second step by Seoul to reduce diplomatic presence in Ukraine in the last two weeks. On October 8, South Korean authorities announced the recall of its ambassador, Park Ki-chang, due to the same dispute.

The diplomatic conflict began after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's speech at the UN General Assembly on September 23. He then reported that Ukraine had transferred to South Korea two DPRK servicemen captured in January 2025 during hostilities in the Kursk region of Russia.

Seoul claims that the parties agreed to keep this information confidential to protect the soldiers themselves and their families who remain in North Korea. South Korean authorities demanded official explanations and apologies from Ukraine.

The Ukrainian side instead stated different interpretations of the confidentiality arrangements. Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhii Tykhyi explained on October 7 that Kyiv had handed over the prisoners at Seoul's request, in compliance with international humanitarian law, and the dispute is being addressed through diplomatic channels.

Foreign Minister of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha said on October 12 that Kyiv considers the issue exhausted and hopes for further cooperation with South Korea.

However, Seoul's new decision indicates that the South Korean side does not currently consider the conflict resolved. Meanwhile, there is no talk of breaking diplomatic relations between the countries.

Based on materials from: Yonhap, RBC-Ukraine (Olena Bdzhola), RBC-Ukraine (Maria Naumenko)