South Korean government faces criticism over POW repatriation and DMZ incident

South Korean politics is facing tension over the government's handling of two North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) repatriated from Ukraine and a recent landmine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).

Democratic Party lawmaker Park Ji-won criticized the government for its lack of transparency, questioning why the humanitarian transfer of the POWs from Ukraine was kept confidential. He also demanded a factual explanation regarding the DMZ landmine incident, arguing that the public deserves to know the truth if South Korean soldiers were injured.

In response, the Democratic Party defended the government's decision to keep the POW repatriation private, stating it is a common-sense measure to ensure the safety of defectors and minimize unnecessary confrontation. The party accused the ruling People Power Party of using national security as a political tool and spreading conspiracy theories regarding the DMZ incident.