Kyiv and Seoul: New Action Plan Ends Diplomatic Freeze
Ukrainian and South Korean foreign ministers agreed on a roadmap to restore relations after a dispute over the transfer of North Korean soldiers.
By Rebecca Foster ·
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun have agreed on an action plan to resume full dialogue between their two nations.
The ministers reached this consensus during a meeting on the sidelines of the G7 foreign ministers' summit in Paris.
Sybiha confirmed the outcome on the national joint 24/7 newscast following the talks.
He described the discussion as frank and productive.
"I think we had a good meeting," Sybiha said. "We deserve to have an extremely dynamic and high-level bilateral relationship with South Korea."
The agreement follows a period of diplomatic tension that began in late September.
On September 23, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the United Nations General Assembly.
He stated that Ukraine had handed two North Korean soldiers to South Korea.
The soldiers had fought for Russia and were captured in Kursk Oblast in 2025.
The following day, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung criticized Zelenskyy.
Lee accused the Ukrainian president of disclosing sensitive information and violating agreements.
The Office of the President of Ukraine responded that no non-disclosure agreements had been signed between the two sides at that time. They noted that Zelenskyy revealed only the fact of the handover and provided no operational details. The dispute escalated in October. On October 8, South Korea's Foreign Ministry announced it was recalling ambassador Park Hee-chang from Ukraine. On October 27, Cho Hyun announced the withdrawal of eight embassy staff members from Kyiv. Seoul also summoned Ukraine's ambassador and threatened additional measures if Kyiv did not issue a public apology. Sybiha said the new action plan is designed to resolve these diplomatic differences. He expressed gratitude for South Korea's continued assistance and support for Ukrainian territorial integrity and sovereignty. He noted that the two sides spoke frankly about the recent unpleasant events and developments. The ministers aim to restore a high level of cooperation based on the agreed framework.
