South Korea recalls Ukraine envoy over prisoner-of-war row

It is the latest in a diplomatic spat after Kyiv disclosed that two North Korean prisoners were transferred to Seoul. South Korea has said it will recall its ambassador to Ukraine, the latest escalation in a diplomatic spat between both countries. It started last month when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that his government had transferred two captured North Korean soldiers to Seoul. Seoul says Ukraine broke an agreement to keep the transfer a secret but Zelensky's office maintains that there was no non-disclosure agreement in place. The two North Korean soldiers, who were among thousands from the country supporting Russia in the Ukraine war, had earlier told local media they wanted to be sent to South Korea.

South Korean Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo had in September lodged a formal complaint with his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Vieshkin over the matter. And earlier this week, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said he received an apology from his Ukrainian counterpart, but added that it fell short of Seoul's expectations, according to local reports. Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said in a statement on Thursday that "diplomacy should prevail over emotions". "Despite Seoul's decision to recall its ambassador, Ukraine remains open to restoring a constructive dialogue – even if it takes time," he said. Earlier on Thursday, South Korea's Foreign Ministry said