PPP slams diplomat withdrawal from Ukraine as 'emotional response'

The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) has expressed strong disapproval of the South Korean government's recent decision to withdraw additional diplomatic staff from Ukraine. This move, announced by the foreign ministry on Tuesday, comes after the recall of the embassy's ambassador to Ukraine, amidst a dispute over the country's unilateral release of two North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) to South Korea.

PPP floor leader Jeong Jeom-sig found it difficult to comprehend the government's decision, unless it indicated a shift in foreign policy away from the United States and other allies, towards an alignment with North Korea, China, and Russia. The government claims the withdrawal was due to a threat of air strikes, but Jeong dismissed this explanation, stating, "No one is going to take that at face value."

Given the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which has lasted for over four years, Jeong questioned the timing of the withdrawal, which occurred shortly after the dispute erupted over the transfer of North Korean POWs. He urged the government to provide a more transparent explanation for the decision.