South Korea Keeps Ukraine Aid Flowing Despite Diplomatic Row Over North Korean POWs

South Korea says its support for Ukraine will continue despite a diplomatic fallout over Kyiv’s transfer of two captured North Korean soldiers to Seoul, as the two countries seek to repair strained relations. “As a responsible member of the international community, we will continue to maintain our principled position on providing assistance to Ukraine,” a South Korean Foreign Ministry official told AFP on Thursday, Nov. 12.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. The reassurance comes after Seoul recalled its ambassador to Kyiv and withdrew eight diplomatic personnel from Ukraine in protest over Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s public disclosure of the transfer. But the diplomatic spat has not stopped South Korea from planning further financial support. According to JoongAng Ilbo, Seoul’s Foreign Ministry has requested around $100 million in Ukraine assistance in next year’s budget, including $50 million for a NATO trust fund and $20 million in humanitarian aid. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung announced a separate $100 million comprehensive assistance pledge for Ukraine at a NATO summit in July. “Our government will continue to provide humanitarian assistance needed by the Ukrainian people while also taking part in international efforts to support Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction,” Lee said. North Korean POWs spark diplomatic fallout The dispute erupted in September after Zelensky, addressing the UN General Assembly, revealed that Ukraine had transferred two North Korean POWs to South Korea. Other Topics of Interest Merz Could Speak With Putin After Abu Dhabi Peace Talks Merz said he would not rule out meeting Putin if the Russian president attended the G20 summit in Miami in December. The soldiers were captured in Russia’s Kursk region in January 2025 while fighting alongside Russian forces. Their capture provided direct evidence of North Korea’s military involvement in Russia’s war against Ukraine. Kyiv had repeatedly warned that Pyongyang was sending troops to help Moscow. Russia eventually acknowledged their deployment in April 2025. The two soldiers reportedly expressed a desire to relocate to South Korea after initially declining the offer. Their transfer followed months of discussions between Kyiv and Seoul. However, Seoul objected to Zelensky’s public disclosure, arguing that the transfer should have remained confidential to protect the soldiers’ families in North Korea. South Korea demanded an apology and recalled its ambassador, escalating the dispute. Kyiv and Seoul seek to repair ties The latest sign of a diplomatic thaw came Wednesday, Nov. 11, when South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha in Paris. It was their first meeting since the dispute erupted. Cho said he hoped all outstanding issues would be resolved amicably. Sybiha said Kyiv remained committed to a “dynamic and pragmatic partnership” with Seoul, citing shared security threats posed by North Korea’s involvement in Russia’s war. “We are grateful to the Republic of Korea for supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Sybiha wrote on X. He said he was confident further steps would follow toward the full normalization of relations. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 90% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.