韩国周四表示，将召回驻乌克兰大使，以此升级抗议，针对乌克兰总统泽连斯基披露了首尔方面称之为秘密转移两名朝鲜战俘至韩国的事件。
South Korea said on Thursday that it will recall its ambassador to Ukraine, stepping up its protest against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s disclosure of what Seoul says was a secret transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea.
此举发生在韩国总统李在明威胁若乌克兰不就披露事件道歉将采取未明确的惩罚性措施数日后。韩国外交部未说明朴熙昌大使何时返国，但表示将继续与乌方磋商，并希望争端能顺利解决。
The move came days after South Korean President Lee Jae Myung threatened unspecified punitive steps if Ukraine does not apologise over the disclosure. South Korea’s Foreign Ministry did not say when ambassador Park Hee-chang would return home, but said consultations with Ukraine would continue and that it hoped the dispute would be resolved smoothly.
在泽连斯基于9月23日的联合国演讲中提及朝鲜士兵移交一事后，韩乌陷入外交争端。韩国指责乌克兰违反了与9月中旬士兵移交相关的保密协议，而基辅方面否认同意过任何此类协议。
South Korea and Ukraine were drawn into a diplomatic row after Zelenskyy spoke about the transfer of the North Korean soldiers during his UN speech on September 23. South Korea has accused Ukraine of violating a non-disclosure agreement linked to the soldiers’ transfer in mid-September, while Kyiv has denied that it agreed to any such deal.
这两名士兵是被派往支持俄罗斯对乌克兰作战的数千名朝鲜军队中的一员。自2025年初被俘以来，他们表示希望在韩国定居，称如果被遣返回国可能面临迫害。韩国表示将接纳他们，因为韩国依法视朝鲜为其领土一部分，并有接纳和资助朝鲜脱北者的政策。
The two soldiers were among thousands of North Korean troops sent to support Russia’s war against Ukraine. Since being captured in early 2025, they had expressed a wish to resettle in South Korea, saying they could face persecution if they were sent back home. South Korea had said it would accept them because it legally regards North Korea as part of its territory and has a policy of accepting and financially supporting North Korean defectors.
韩国官员称，保密协议是必要的，因为他们担心这两名士兵及其在朝鲜亲属的安全。然而，许多专家认为，韩国自由派政府可能也担心，公开披露他们的抵达可能会影响其改善与平壤关系的努力。
South Korean officials have said the non-disclosure agreement was needed because they were concerned about the safety of the two soldiers and their relatives in North Korea. However, many experts say South Korea’s liberal government may also be worried that public disclosure of their arrival could affect its efforts to improve ties with Pyongyang.
朝鲜官方媒体未对士兵移交一事发表评论。但朝鲜过去曾对本国公民大规模脱北事件愤怒回应，指责韩国绑架他们。
North Korea’s state media has not commented on the soldiers’ transfer. But the North has reacted angrily in the past to major defections by its citizens, accusing South Korea of kidnapping them.
自2019年以来，朝鲜也一直避免与韩国和美国进行对话，并专注于扩大其核计划。目前尚不清楚韩国可能采取哪些其他措施。专家表示，与乌克兰保持良好关系符合韩国的国家利益，因为基辅方面可以分享有关朝鲜与俄罗斯日益增长的军事合作及其战场经验的情报。他们还指出，与乌克兰的合作对于韩国与支持乌克兰参战的西方国家之间的更广泛伙伴关系也至关重要。
North Korea has also avoided talks with South Korea and the United States and has focused on expanding its nuclear programme since 2019. It is not clear what other steps South Korea may take. Experts say good ties with Ukraine are in South Korea’s national interest because Kyiv could share intelligence on North Korea’s growing military cooperation with Russia and its battlefield experience. They also say cooperation with Ukraine matters for South Korea’s wider partnerships with Western countries backing Ukraine in the war.
观察人士称，泽连斯基公开移交朝鲜被俘士兵的消息，是为了凸显朝鲜对俄罗斯军事支持所带来的风险，并寻求更多国际援助。自2022年以来，韩国已向乌克兰提供了4.45亿美元的人道主义援助，李在明在7月与泽连斯基会晤时又承诺追加1亿美元。总体而言，召回大使标志着这一争端进一步升级，给首尔与基辅之间的关系带来了压力。
Observers say Zelenskyy disclosed the transfer of the North Korean prisoners to highlight the risks of North Korea’s military support for Russia and to seek more international assistance. South Korea has provided USD 445 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine since 2022, and Lee in July pledged another USD 100 million during a meeting with Zelenskyy. Overall, the recall of the ambassador marks a further escalation in a dispute that has put pressure on ties between Seoul and Kyiv.