Parties clash over secret repatriation of North Korean POWs from Ukraine
Ruling and opposition parties clashed over the government’s decision to keep the repatriation of two North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) from Ukraine confidential. After Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed the arrangement, the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) questioned whether Seoul had been too concerned about provoking Pyongyang. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea…
Ruling and opposition parties in South Korea engaged in a heated debate over the government's decision to keep the repatriation of two North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) from Ukraine under wraps. Following the announcement by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) raised concerns that Seoul had prioritized avoiding confrontation with Pyongyang over the welfare of the two men.
The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) stood firmly behind the decision, arguing that it was essential to safeguard the individuals and maintain national security.
President Lee Jae Myung expressed disappointment over Kyiv's disclosure, contending that Zelenskyy had breached a bilateral agreement to maintain secrecy regarding the transfer. He further lambasted opposition politicians for questioning the government's decision, branding them as "murderers and traitors" for jeopardizing lives and national security for the sake of garnering credit.
The DPK's spokesperson, Shin Hyun-young, defended the government's stance, emphasizing that the primary objective was to protect the two former North Korean soldiers.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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