▲ People Power Party Lawmaker Na Kyung-won
People Power Party Lawmaker Na Kyung-won stated to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, "I welcome and express my deep gratitude for Your Excellency President Zelenskyy's magnanimous decision to allow North Korean prisoners of war Mr. Ri and Mr. Baek to come to South Korea, respecting their free will."
In a letter of appreciation sent to President Zelenskyy and made public on Facebook today (October 9), Lawmaker Na said, "We fully understand that Your Excellency President Zelenskyy's handling of the North Korean POW issue based on universal human rights, international law, and humanitarian principles was by no means an easy decision as a head of state and commander-in-chief elected by the Ukrainian people."
Lawmaker Na's office sent the letter online to the Ukrainian government and is reviewing delivering a physical copy through diplomatic channels.
Regarding the reason for sending the letter of appreciation, Na remarked, "Is the disclosure of the fact that Ukraine sent North Korean POWs to South Korea something for President Lee Jae-myung and the government to be so enraged about, even taking the extreme measure of recalling an ambassador?" adding, "Even if there are some differences of opinion and regrettable aspects regarding whether it was disclosed procedurally, it is essentially a humanitarian and security achievement for which both nations should put their heads together and thank each other."
She then criticized, "Unable to say a single word to North Korea, which harmed our service members with Military Demarcation Line (MDL) landmines, or to the aggressor nation Russia, the Lee Jae-myung administration is repaying Ukraine's favor of repatriating North Korean POWs with hostility—it has gone completely backward."
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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