South Korea's Foreign Ministry announced Thursday that it will recall its ambassador to Ukraine amid a diplomatic dispute over the public disclosure of two North Korean prisoners of war transferred to Seoul.

The decision marks an escalation in tensions between the two countries, which had previously cooperated on sensitive matters related to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Seoul maintains that Ukraine violated a confidentiality agreement by revealing the transfer, while Kyiv denies any such pact existed.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky disclosed the repatriation during his address to the United Nations General Assembly on September 23. The two North Korean soldiers, captured while fighting alongside Russian forces, had reportedly expressed a desire to go to South Korea. Seoul had pledged publicly to accept such defectors but sought to handle the matter discreetly for security reasons.

South Korean officials demanded an official explanation and apology. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun stated earlier this week that a message from his Ukrainian counterpart included an apology but fell short of expectations, prompting Seoul to take firmer measures. Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo had lodged a formal complaint with Ukrainian officials in September.

The ministry's statement expressed hope that outstanding issues could be resolved through continued consultations. This recall represents Seoul's strongest diplomatic protest, the first such action since 2008 when an ambassador was recalled from Japan over territorial claims.

Additional friction has arisen over reports of petroleum shipments from South Korean ports reaching Russia, which faces fuel shortages from Ukrainian strikes on refineries. The move underscores Seoul's concerns about North Korea's deepening military involvement in the war and the need for careful handling of sensitive repatriations.

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry spokesperson responded that diplomacy should prevail and that Kyiv remains open to dialogue despite the recall.