Seoul:South Korea has withdrawn eight diplomatic personnel from Ukraine, as announced by Foreign Minister Cho Hyun. The withdrawal comes in response to a dispute regarding Ukraine's disclosure of the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Cho made these statements during a parliamentary audit of the foreign ministry. Despite the withdrawal, Cho emphasized that communication with the Ukrainian foreign minister continues in an effort to resolve the issue. The situation arose after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly revealed the transfer of the North Korean soldiers during a U.N. General Assembly speech, prompting South Korea to demand an explanation and apology.

The withdrawal included recalling the ambassador to Ukraine, Park Ki-chang, earlier this month. South Korea cited Ukraine's lack of action to resolve the dispute and ongoing threats of Russian airstrikes as reasons for the partial withdrawal. Minister Cho indicated that the situation could escalate to affect diplomatic relations if tensions persist.

Despite the current tensions, South Korea maintains its broader support for Ukraine. This includes participating in reconstruction conferences, providing humanitarian aid, and engaging in international efforts to end the ongoing conflict.