South Korea has decided to recall its ambassador from Ukraine amid an escalating diplomatic row between the two countries, Seoul’s Foreign Ministry has said.

The move comes after Vladimir Zelensky publicly announced the transfer of two North Korean prisoners by Kiev to Seoul in late September. South Korea insisted that the arrangement was supposed to remain secret, but the Ukrainian authorities have denied that claim.

The South Korean Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday that the country’s envoy, Park Ki-chang, will be leaving Kiev and returning home.

The government in Seoul “hopes that various issues between the two countries will be resolved amicably and will continue consultations with Ukraine to achieve this,” the statement read.

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