Na Kyungwon: "Recalling Ukraine Envoy Is Appeasing North Korea"... Ruling Party: "First, Take Responsibility for Breaking Confidentiality Pledge"

Park Kichang, South Korea's ambassador to Ukraine, returns home on the morning of the 10th
Ruling and opposition parties clash over Ukraine's responsibility

Na Kyung-won, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, criticized the government on Saturday for recalling Park Ki-chang, South Korea's ambassador to Ukraine, saying, "This unprecedented hard-line move of 'recalling' an ambassador looks like nothing more than an attempt to appease North Korea."

She said, "How can anyone compare the temporary return of South Korea's ambassador to Japan in 2008 in protest against Japan's claims to sovereignty over Dokdo with this brazen recall of our ambassador to Ukraine?" She added, "The current recall serves North Korea's interests and amounts to a protest on North Korea's behalf."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Park returned to South Korea on Saturday morning. On Oct. 8, the government decided to recall Park in strong protest, saying that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had made public information about the repatriation of North Korean prisoners of war despite an agreement to keep it confidential. This is the first time in 18 years that the government has recalled its ambassador from another country, following its protest against Japan's claims to sovereignty over Dokdo in 2008.

People Power Party lawmaker Na Kyung-won. Photo by Yonhap News.

Na claimed, "A Ukrainian government official even indicated that, if there are prisoners of war in the future, Ukraine may not actively help arrange their return to South Korea," adding, "We have cut off with our own hands both a lifeline for our North Korean compatriots and their path to defect." She urged the government to "apologize to Ukraine for the discourtesy of accepting the return of North Korean prisoners of war who chose freedom, and once again express its gratitude with due respect."

On Oct. 9, Na said she had sent a letter of thanks to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy regarding the repatriation of North Korean prisoners of war. After the ruling party criticized her over the letter, she said, "Why are you volunteering to be a mouthpiece for the North Korean regime?" She added, "Democratic Party lawmakers who keep hurling abuse at an opposition lawmaker for legitimate diplomatic efforts should just keep quiet."

In a written briefing, Democratic Party spokesperson Lee Yong-woo countered, "While defending Ukraine for breaking its promise to keep the matter confidential, she has leveled the baseless accusation that our government, which is holding Ukraine accountable, is trying to abandon North Korean prisoners of war in harm's way."

Lee said, "Stop the irresponsible incitement of branding as pro-North Korea even the demand to protect the safety of the people involved and their families in accordance with international standards." He added, "Trust surrounding the agreement has been broken. How can the next repatriation be carried out safely if that breach is not addressed?"

He went on to say, "The government demanded an explanation and an apology from Ukraine, as well as measures to prevent a recurrence, and said it would continue consultations even as it announced the ambassador's recall." He asked Na, "If you speak of the need for cooperation, why don't you also demand that the agreement be honored, which is essential to supporting that cooperation?"

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.