Lawmaker Na Kyung-won thanks Zelensky for letting North Korean POWs go to South Korea

Na Kyung-won, a lawmaker of the People Power Party, said on October 9 that she had sent a letter of thanks to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. "We welcome and express deep gratitude for your magnanimous decision to allow the North Korean prisoners of war Mr. Ri and Mr. Baek to come to South Korea, respecting their free will," the letter said. Newsis reported that the decision concerned two North Korean prisoners of war. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]

Na made the letter public on Facebook. Her side sent it online to the Ukrainian government and is considering also delivering a physical copy through diplomatic channels. In the letter she wrote that she fully understood that his handling of the prisoner issue, based on universal human rights, international law and humanitarian principles, was by no means an easy decision for a head of state elected by the Ukrainian people and commander-in-chief. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]

Explaining why she sent the letter, Na asked whether Ukraine's disclosure that it had sent North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea was something over which President Lee Jae-myung and the government should be so enraged as to take the extreme measure of recalling the ambassador. "Even if there are some differences of opinion and regrettable points over whether to disclose it procedurally, in essence it is a humanitarian and security achievement for which the two countries should put their heads together and thank each other," she said. Chosun Ilbo reported that her remarks concerned the government's decision to recall Park Ki-chang (박기창), the ambassador to Ukraine. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]

Na added that the Lee Jae-myung government, which she said could not say a word to North Korea, which harmed South Korean soldiers with landmines at the Military Demarcation Line, or to the aggressor Russia, was repaying Ukraine's kindness in sending the prisoners with enmity, and was "going far backwards." [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]

Newsis quoted further passages. Na wrote that Zelensky has for years worried about Ukrainian soldiers held in Russia and continued prisoner exchanges with Russia, and that his choice to send Mr. Ri and Mr. Baek to South Korea showed the world why and for what Ukraine is fighting Russia's illegal invasion. She wrote that the North Korean regime took away their freedom and right to choose and indoctrinated them that they must die no matter what, and that North Koreans who express an intention to defect have the right, as citizens of South Korea, to basic human rights guaranteed by the state. She said they would never forget his decision. [ 3 ]