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| European Union Ambassador to South Korea Maria Castillo-Fernandez, right, speaks during a meeting with Democratic Party of Korea Chairman Lee Jae-myung at the National Assembly on Yeouido, Seoul, Tuesday. Joint Press Corps |
By Nam Hyun-woo
The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) apologized for having quoted European Union Ambassador to South Korea Maria Castillo-Fernandez out of context.
The DPK's apology came hours after the EU envoy expressed her regret over the party's press briefing which was interpreted as if the envoy indirectly criticized the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's North Korea policies.
"During a meeting between DPK Chairman Lee Jae-myung and European Union Ambassador to South Korea Maria Castillo-Fernandez, yesterday, stressed the importance of peace on the Korean Peninsula and talks for security amid North Korea's escalating provocations," DPK spokesperson Kim Eui-kyeom said in a statement.
"During a press briefing after the closed-door meeting, I quoted her remarks differently from what she actually said … I offer my deep apologies to the EU ambassador for the confusion."
During the press briefing, Tuesday, Kim told reporters that "the EU ambassador said North Korea is escalating its level of provocations, but the Yoon Suk-yeol administration has its own limit in its response because it has no channel for dialogue (with the North) currently."
Kim continued, "she also said there were ways to relieve the tension during the previous Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun administrations because there were dialogue channels (between the two Koreas), but there aren't right now."
The two former presidents were both liberal leaders who pursued dovish North Korea policies based on talks. They each had summits with then-North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.
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| European Union Ambassador to South Korea Maria Castillo-Fernandez, fourth from left, poses with Democratic Party of Korea Chairman Lee Jae-myung, third from left, during the former's visit to the National Assembly on Yeouido, Seoul, Tuesday. On the left is DPK spokesperson Kim Eui-kyeom. Joint Press Corps |
Against this backdrop, spokesperson Kim's comments were interpreted as if the EU envoy was indirectly criticizing the Yoon administration's North Korea policies, which place greater emphasis on a stronger deterrence against Pyongyang's nuclear and missile threats.
However, questions have been raised about Kim's briefing as Seoul's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Tuesday night, disclosed a text message that the EU ambassador sent to Ambassador Kim Gunn, Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs.
"Sorry that my words have been mis-used and twisted by opposition for media," Castillo wrote in the text message revealed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "That was not the meaning nor the intention, as you know well."
The EU delegation said its ambassador did not compare the current and previous administrations, and she expressed her support for South Korea's security policies.
"What the ambassador said was about the importance of talks in facilitating peace and security on the Korean Peninsula," an official of the EU delegation told The Korea Times. "The ambassador, as a member of a diplomatic mission, is not in the position to mention or compare the activities of current and previous governments."
The official said the ambassador had never mentioned President Yoon Suk-yeol's name or previous administrations' North Korea policies during her meeting with the DPK chairman.
DPK spokesperson Kim also said, "there were no comparison on the North Korea responses of the previous governments and the current one."
This is not the first time the DPK spokesperson's remarks have become a subject of controversy.
During a National Assembly audit on Oct. 24, Kim claimed that President Yoon, Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon and about 30 lawyers had a late-night drinking session on July 19 in southern Seoul's Cheongdam-dong, citing an anonymous informant. However, Kim has yet to provide evidence to support his claim, such as the venue of the party.
Justice Minister Han has flatly dismissed Kim's claim, telling Kim, "I can bet everything (that it is a false accusation). What's your bet?"
Presidential chief of staff Kim Dae-ki also said on Tuesday, "As far as I know, President Yoon was at his office at the time."
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