South Korea says it is preparing to withdraw additional staff from its embassy in Kiev amid an ongoing disagreement with Ukraine over the public disclosure of two North Korean prisoners of war having been transferred to Seoul.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Park Doo-soon said at a regular press briefing on Tuesday that South Korea had conveyed its concerns to Ukrainian officials through several channels but had yet to receive a response that could help resolve the dispute.

Park said the decision was intended to create conditions for an “amicable resolution of the issue and restore trust between the two countries,” without specifying how many diplomatic personnel would be withdrawn.

South Korea will maintain a diplomatic presence in Kiev through a chargé d’affaires, while consular employees will remain in place to assist South Korean citizens in Ukraine, Park said.

He also pointed to the continuing danger posed by airstrikes as a factor affecting the safety of embassy staff.

The move follows Seoul’s recall of its ambassador after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at the United Nations General Assembly in September that Kiev had transferred two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea.

The announcement provoked strong objections from Seoul, which said the transfer should have been handled confidentially to protect the soldiers’ families in North Korea.

Seoul demands Ukraine apology after Zelensky discloses North Korean POW transfer

South Korea demands an apology from Ukraine over a scandal regarding North Korean POWs.

South Korean officials subsequently summoned Ukraine’s ambassador and warned that additional measures could be taken.

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said earlier in October that Kiev had sent a message containing an apology over Zelenskyy’s disclosure.

However, Seoul said the message did not go far enough to meet its expectations.

Ukraine has taken a different position. Kiev says diplomatic relations should be guided by dialogue rather than emotion. Ukraine has also said it considers the matter settled.

The disagreement touches on South Korea’s legal position toward North Korean defectors. Under South Korea’s constitution, North Koreans are considered citizens of the Republic of Korea, the country’s official name. Those who reach the South and seek to defect are generally permitted to remain there.

The dispute has added strain to relations between Seoul and Kiev, with South Korea now seeking further diplomatic steps to address its concerns while maintaining a limited official presence in Ukraine.