South Korea’s widening dispute with Ukraine over two North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) is exposing a deeper strategic problem for Seoul as Kyiv’s campaign against Russia increasingly collides with South Korea’s priorities on North Korea, energy security and Central Asia.

President Lee Jae Myung threatened “additional measures” on Oct. 2 unless Ukraine acknowledged what Seoul says was an agreement to keep the transfer confidential and issued a public apology.

The government is reportedly weighingthe recall of its ambassador to Ukraine, a step Seoul has not taken toward any country since 2008, after the Foreign Ministry summoned Ukraine’s charge