Seoul seeks ‘way out’ of Ukraine dispute, denies tilt toward Russia

Seoul is seeking a way out of its diplomatic dispute with Kyiv over the disclosure of the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war, stressing that its engagement with Russia remains within the international sanctions framework.

A senior presidential official said discussions were continuing with Ukraine, signaling Seoul's desire to resolve a dispute that has strained relations between the two countries.

"We do not believe it is desirable for this issue to drag on. We are holding discussions to find a way out," the official said on condition of anonymity.

"We believe there is a need to change the current situation and reach a resolution, not only for Korea-Ukraine relations but also in light of the broader regional situation, and we are working toward that end," the official added.

The official added, "We will provide further updates if there is progress."

The dispute erupted after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed the previously undisclosed transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea during his Sept. 23 address to the UN General Assembly.

Seoul says Kyiv had requested confidentiality over the transfer but later violated that understanding, while Ukrainian officials have denied that such an agreement existed.

On Oct. 2, President Lee Jae Myung demanded a public apology and warned of further measures. Seoul subsequently recalled Ambassador Park Ki-chang on Oct. 8 and announced plans to withdraw about half its embassy personnel on Oct. 20. The ambassadorial recall was South Korea's first since 2008, when Seoul summoned its envoy to Japan over Tokyo's territorial claims to Dokdo.

Critics have raised concerns that Seoul's response may be disproportionate.

Asked by The Korea Herald about such criticism, the senior presidential official defended Seoul's response, attributing the dispute to Ukraine's failure to honor an earlier understanding.

"The situation arose because an understanding reached during the process of bringing the prisoners of war back to Seoul was not honored, and subsequent developments brought us to where we are now," the official said, without further details.

"However, we do not believe it is desirable for this situation to continue, and we are making efforts to manage and resolve it," the official added.

The official also pushed back against suggestions that Seoul's increasingly confrontational approach toward Kyiv reflected a broader shift in its diplomatic orientation toward Moscow, particularly amid speculation about a possible end to the war between Russia and Ukraine.

Asked by The Korea Herald about concerns that Seoul may be tilting toward Moscow, the official said "there has been no change" in South Korea's policy toward Russia.

"We maintain necessary communication with Russia, but our relationship operates under international sanctions and other restrictions, and we act in accordance with those frameworks," the official said. "Suggestions that we have pivoted toward Russia are far from the truth."

The remarks echo an explanation by national security adviser Wi Sung-lac, who sought to distinguish Seoul's bilateral dispute with Kyiv from its broader policy of supporting Ukraine and maintaining international sanctions against Russia.

"Our position is that clarifying the facts is necessary to restore trust and develop relations between the two countries, and we are continuing consultations on that basis," Wi said, according to Cheong Wa Dae.

"The recall of our ambassador and the partial withdrawal of embassy personnel were also decisions made in this process, taking into account various circumstances, including security conditions on the ground," he said.

Wi acknowledged that "some have raised questions about whether there has been a major shift in our overall policy toward Ukraine," but stressed that the government's underlying policy remained unchanged.

"Apart from this issue, our position is that, as a responsible member of the international community, we will continue to participate in international efforts to support Ukraine," Wi said. "Our approach to the current situation between Korea and Ukraine is to maintain our principled position (on the issue) at the bilateral level while treating it separately from international efforts to support Ukraine."

Wi also reaffirmed Seoul's commitment to maintaining sanctions and export controls against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

"There has also been no change in our policy of consistently implementing sanctions and export controls against Russia in close coordination with the international community since Russia's invasion of Ukraine," he said.

"This is a position we have maintained as a responsible global power, despite the economic burden it places on our people and businesses."