Democratic Party Calls Thank-You Letter to Zelenskyy 'Treason' as Rep. Na Kyung-won Fires Back: 'A Thoroughly Pro-North Regime'

The Democratic Party of Korea and People Power Party Representative Na Kyung-won clashed on October 10 over the repatriation of North Korean prisoners of war from Ukraine to South Korea and Na's decision to send a thank-you letter to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

In a written briefing on October 10, Democratic Party spokesperson Lee Yong-woo criticized Representative Na, saying, "While defending Ukraine, which broke its confidentiality pledge, she made absurd false accusations against our government—which held Ukraine accountable—claiming it was trying to abandon North Korean POWs in danger."

Spokesperson Lee urged, "Stop this irresponsible demagoguery that condemns even demands to protect the safety of the individuals and their families in accordance with international standards as 'pro-North.'"

Lee also remarked, "Is it Representative Na's definition of human rights to claim concern for the prisoners' 'lifelines' while ignoring the promises to ensure their actual safety? Stop the deception of prioritizing human rights in words while pushing prisoner safety to the back burner."

Representative Kim Byung-joo of the same party also criticized Na on Facebook, writing, "Sending a thank-you letter to Zelenskyy, who insulted an ungrateful South Korea—what country's lawmaker is she?"

Kim urged, "How is this any different from Yi Wan-yong, who sold out the nation for personal greed? Put an immediate end to this act of treason."


In response, Representative Na fired back on Facebook, writing, "When I sent a thank-you letter to the Ukrainian president regarding the repatriation of North Korean POWs, Democratic Party lawmakers rushed in like suicide squads."

She questioned, "Are they really lawmakers of the Republic of Korea, or are they lawmakers of North Korea's Workers' Party? Why are they volunteering to serve as mouthpieces for the North Korean regime?"

Regarding the return of South Korean Ambassador to Ukraine Park Ki-chang following the government's repatriation measures, Na also criticized it as "diplomatic self-harm," arguing, "This astonishing diplomatic conflict can only be explained as a show put on for North Korea's Kim Jong-un."

Na further claimed, "It sends a servile, submissive message to Pyongyang saying, 'Rest assured, as we will never welcome North Korean soldiers defecting and coming to South Korea.'"

She asked, "Now, which country, including Ukraine, would ever help North Korean prisoners of war defect?"

Na said, "In the end, the Lee Jae-myung administration has completely succeeded in fundamentally blocking a second or third repatriation of North Korean prisoners," criticizing, "The Lee Jae-myung administration, which turns its back on the lives of compatriots just to cater to North Korea's mood, is truly a thoroughly 'pro-North regime.'"

Meanwhile, People Power Party Representative Ahn Cheol-soo also criticized the government's response to North Korea following the recent discovery of an anti-personnel mine on Jumundo Island in Ganghwa County, Incheon, suspected of having drifted down from North Korea.

On Facebook, Representative Ahn urged, "How much longer will President Lee Jae-myung remain silent as North Korea turns even South Korea's seas into minefields? We must do something, whether it is propaganda broadcasts, leaflet drops, or loudspeaker broadcasts toward North Korea."

In response, Democratic Party spokesperson Lee Yong-woo countered, "The leaflet scattering and loudspeaker broadcasts advocated by Representative Ahn Cheol-soo are truly irresponsible."

Spokesperson Lee added, "It was already proven under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration that such actions subject border residents to danger and suffering, while completely lacking effectiveness."

(Photo: Capture from Rep. Na Kyung-won's Facebook)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.