"Quoted EU Ambassador's Private Conversation Differently"... Kim Eui-gyeom Issues Apology Statement

"No Conversation Comparing Past and Current Government Responses" Explanation

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Kim Eui-gyeom, spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Korea, apologized for conveying incorrect information regarding the private meeting between Representative Lee Jae-myung and the European Union (EU) ambassador.

In a statement released that day, Spokesperson Kim said, "Yesterday, there was a private meeting at the National Assembly between Maria Castillo Fernandez, the EU Ambassador to Korea, and Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea," and introduced, "At this meeting, the EU Ambassador to Korea and Representative Lee emphasized the importance of dialogue for peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia amid North Korea's escalating provocations."

He continued, "After the private meeting, during the briefing process, I quoted differently from what the EU Ambassador said," and clarified, "There was no conversation comparing the responses of past and current governments during this dialogue."

Spokesperson Kim expressed, "I sincerely apologize to the EU Ambassador for causing confusion."

In fact, after the private meeting the previous day, Spokesperson Kim told reporters, "The EU Ambassador said that North Korea is escalating provocations, but the current Yoon Suk-yeol administration seems to have no dialogue channels, which limits its ability to respond," and added, "During the administrations of former Presidents Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun, even when tensions escalated, there were dialogue channels, so solutions could be found through exchanges, but that is not the case now." However, Ambassador Castillo Fernandez clarified to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that Spokesperson Kim's remarks were not accurate.