[Anchor]

Amid friction with the Ukrainian government over its disclosure of the repatriation of North Korean prisoners of war, the South Korean government has decided to withdraw half of its embassy personnel from Ukraine. As this is one of the strongest diplomatic countermeasures short of severing diplomatic ties and closing the mission, a Foreign Ministry official indicated that staff could only return if Kyiv offers an apology and promises to prevent a recurrence.

Kim Hye-young reports.

[Reporter]

Following its recall of the South Korean ambassador to Ukraine on October 8, the government has decided to pull half of its embassy personnel from the country.

[Park Doo-soon / Spokesperson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs: "In the absence of constructive measures (from Ukraine) and considering the ongoing threat of airstrikes (across Ukraine) that makes ensuring safety difficult, we have decided to withdraw some embassy staff."]

While the government explained that it has become difficult to guarantee the safety of diplomatic personnel, reducing staff that had been maintained for more than four years—even after Russia's invasion of Ukraine—is seen virtually as a measure to ramp up pressure on Kyiv.

A Foreign Ministry official said, "Unless Ukraine takes forward-looking steps, it will not be easy for embassy personnel to return," hinting that the government views a clear apology and a commitment to prevent a recurrence regarding the disclosure of the repatriation of North Korean POWs as conditions for their return.

The Foreign Ministry stated that 85 South Korean nationals currently reside in Ukraine, noting that it plans to first assist those who wish to evacuate before proceeding with the withdrawal of embassy staff.

It added that only the minimum essential personnel needed for consular operations, including the chargé d'affaires, will remain on site.

However, with numerous pending issues requiring cooperation with Ukraine—ranging from addressing the deepening ties between North Korea and Russia to postwar reconstruction—there are views that a sober assessment is needed on whether such a hardline measure might become a burden on South Korea's national interests in the long term.

Video by Cho Chun-dong | Video Editing by Kim Jun-hee | Graphics by Byun Da-young