South Korean opposition lawmaker's thank-you note to Zelenskyy sparks party clash and ambassador recall
People Power Party MP Na Kyung-won’s plan to thank President Zelenskyy for releasing two North Korean POWs drew sharp criticism from the Democratic Party of Korea, leading Seoul to recall its ambassador to Ukraine.
Opposition lawmaker Na Kyung-won said she would write to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to thank him for permitting two North Korean POWs, identified as Ri and Paek, to be moved to South Korea according to their wishes. The Democratic Party of Korea rebuked the gesture, arguing that Zelenskyy’s public mention of the transfer at a UN General Assembly speech breached a confidentiality pact meant to protect the prisoners and their families.
The ruling party sought an explanation and apology from Kyiv and warned that further disclosures could jeopardise future transfers. In response, South Korea recalled its ambassador to Ukraine, Park Ki-chang, a decision Na denounced as harmful to defection pathways and called for the dismissal of the foreign minister and related officials. The dispute highlights tension between South Korea’s diplomatic handling of the POW issue and domestic political rivalries.
Why it matters
The row underscores how diplomatic sensitivities over North Korean POWs can trigger political conflict and affect South Korea-Ukraine relations.
How this story developed
- Sep 22 EU prepares sanctions on North Korean elite camp hosting Ukrainian children
- Sep 24 Zelenskyy publicly announced the transfer of the two North Korean POWs at the UN General Assembly.
- Sep 27 Parliamentary opposition pressed the government for a public rationale after the UN disclosure.
- Sep 29 South Korea formally summoned Ukraine’s chargé d’affaires and demanded an apology for the UN disclosure.
- Sep 29 Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon and People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok claimed the military rejected United Nations Command demands for swift site access after the September 21 blasts that injured three soldiers. They argue the delay was meant to conceal evidence of a North Korean wooden-box mine and that the joint investigation was only advanced after public pressure. South Korean and UNC personnel entered the DMZ on Saturday to secure a route and prepare for the upcoming probe.
- Oct 2 South Korean intelligence briefed the National Assembly's Intelligence Committee about Ukraine's request for secrecy in the transfer.
- Oct 2 President Lee publicly warned Ukraine of possible retaliation if it does not apologise for the disclosure.
- Oct 3 Kim Yo‑jong publicly dismissed Seoul’s apology demand as despicable.
- Oct 5 South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff says North Korea intentionally placed two mines that exploded in the DMZ on Sept. 21, injuring three soldiers.
- Oct 6 Seoul announced it will examine diplomatic measures in response to the mine blasts.
- Oct 7 Seoul said it will formally cite the mine incident as a breach of the 1953 armistice and urged restoration of the DMZ to its original state.
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