South Korea does not rule out severing diplomatic relations with Ukraine

South Korea is allowing for the possibility of severing diplomatic relations with Ukraine amid the conflict over North Korean prisoners of war.

This was stated by South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, according to the Yonhap agency.

When asked by a parliament member whether the situation was approaching a severance of diplomatic relations, the minister replied that he does not rule out such a possibility if the current disagreements continue to escalate.

“Yes, if the situation continues to escalate, I think such a possibility exists,” he said.

Earlier, Seoul recalled its ambassador from Kyiv and then withdrew eight more embassy staff members.

The cause of the conflict was a statement by Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky at the UN General Assembly about the transfer to South Korea of two captured DPRK servicemen who had fought on Russia’s side.

Seoul claims that the parties agreed to keep the transfer of the prisoners secret for the safety of the servicemen themselves and their relatives in the DPRK. Kyiv denies the existence of such an agreement.

Sources of “Strana” in diplomatic circles asserted that a corresponding agreement between Kyiv and Seoul did exist.

We examined what the consequences for Ukraine of the scandal over the Korean prisoners will be in a separate article.