Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon and Foreign Minister Cho Hyun traded sharp words on the 6th over the government's handling of Ukraine and its North Korea policy during a parliamentary audit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee.
At the audit held at the National Assembly, Han asked Cho why the government "cannot say a peep about what North Korea announces and what Kim Yo-jong, a department director of North Korea's Workers' Party, blathers on about, while going after Ukraine like you are hunting rats." He then asked, "Who is the main enemy?" The question pointed to President Lee Jae-myung's recent social media post expressing strong regret over Ukraine's disclosure that it had repatriated captured North Korean soldiers, in contrast with what Han called a lukewarm response to a landmine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone.
Cho pushed back, saying, "As long as Representative Han uses the expression 'hunting rats,' I will refuse to answer." When Han again asked why the government is "firm only with Ukraine and not with North Korea," Cho countered, "It may have fallen short of Representative Han's expectations, but responding as firmly as necessary toward North Korea is only natural."
The two also sparred over allegations that Cho exchanged raised voices with Unification Minister Chung Dong-young at a National Security Council meeting on the 1st of this month over a plan for unilateral sanctions on North Korean cyber activity. Asked about the matter, Cho said there had been "no clash," while adding that "there can be differences of opinion." When Han pressed, "Are you saying there were differences of opinion?" Cho shot back, "Do not twist my words."
When Han objected, asking whether "it is appropriate for a minister to lecture a lawmaker who is asking questions on behalf of the people," Cho asked committee Chairman Song Seok-joon to "conduct the session smoothly." Song responded that "telling the chair what to do or raising objections is an excessive discourtesy" and demanded an apology, to which Cho said, "I had no intention of being discourteous. I apologize."
Separately, on Ukraine's disclosure of the repatriation of captured North Korean soldiers, Cho said he had "received a message containing words of apology" from Ukraine's foreign minister, but added, "There is a gap between that and our own view, so we intend to take resolute measures." He said the government is also considering recalling Park Ki-chang, South Korea's ambassador to Ukraine, to Seoul.
