Ukraine's foreign minister has said relations with South Korea are on the road to recovery after a diplomatic row over two North Korean prisoners of war. Andrii Sybiha said he held a "good meeting" with his South Korean counterpart, Cho Hyun, on the sidelines of a meeting of G7 foreign ministers on Tuesday, and was pleased that relations were being put right.

"We now have in front of us the next series of actions for the final normalisation of bilateral relations," Sybiha told Ukrainian television, in comments reported by Ukrainian media. "We deserve an extremely dynamic and high-level bilateral relationship with South Korea," he added. "We had a really good conversation, during which we spoke frankly about those recent unpleasant events and facts that occurred."

What caused the rift?

The dispute began after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the United Nations General Assembly that Ukraine had transferred two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea. Seoul said the disclosure breached an understanding to keep the transfer confidential in order to protect the soldiers and their families in North Korea, and last month it recalled its ambassador to Kyiv.

Sybiha said after the dispute broke out that it had been rooted in differing interpretations of the confidentiality arrangements, and that Ukraine had fulfilled all of its obligations. In his latest comments, he said Ukraine was grateful for past and future support from Seoul and for its backing for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

According to a statement from Ukraine's foreign ministry, Sybiha told Cho that the two men had a "meaningful conversation about ways to end the war" and thanked him for views shaped by South Korea's own historical experience. He also repeated an invitation for Cho to visit Ukraine, and said he was convinced there would be "new steps on the path to fully normalizing our bilateral relations".

Why the relationship matters

The row came at an awkward moment for both countries. North Korea has sent an estimated 14,000 to 15,000 troops to support Russia's war in Ukraine since 2024, according to Ukrainian and South Korean estimates, with most deployed in the Kursk region. Seoul has been one of Kyiv's supporters in Asia, providing humanitarian assistance and non-lethal aid, and the two governments have also discussed post-war reconstruction.

South Korea has included US$100 million for Ukraine in its draft budget for 2027, the JoongAng Ilbo newspaper reported on Tuesday, following an earlier pledge by President Lee Jae Myung in July to help Ukraine. The allocation was requested by South Korea's foreign ministry.

For Kyiv, repairing the relationship removes a distraction from its diplomacy with Asian partners at a time when it is seeking wider support for its war effort and for reconstruction. For Seoul, the episode has tested how it handles a sensitive case involving North Korean soldiers who wished to settle in the South, a matter its officials have said was verified repeatedly by both governments and a third party.

Frequently asked questions

What caused the dispute between Ukraine and South Korea? Ukraine publicly disclosed that it had transferred two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea. Seoul said the transfer was meant to stay confidential to protect the men and their families, and it recalled its ambassador.

What happens next? Sybiha said the two sides had agreed a series of actions aimed at the final normalisation of relations, and he invited his South Korean counterpart to visit Ukraine.