Seoul, South Korea
CNN
—
A pair of canines gifted by North Korea are the middle of a political dispute in South Korea after the nation’s former President mentioned he was giving them up over an obvious lack of authorized and monetary assist from his successor to take care of the animals.
The two white Pungsan looking canines, Gomi and Songgang, have been offered to then-South Korean President Moon Jae-in by North Korean chief Kim Jong Un at peace talks in 2018.
The canines have lived with Moon ever since, together with after he was succeeded as President by Yoon Suk Yeol in May – though they’re legally owned by the state.
On Monday, Moon’s workplace mentioned in a press release that he was turning the canines over to the Presidential Archives, accusing President Yoon of blocking a dialogue to supply a authorized foundation for the previous president to maintain them.
“Unlike the Presidential Archives and the Ministry of Interior, Presidential Office seems to be against leaving care of the Pungsan dogs to former President Moon,” the assertion from Moon’s workplace mentioned.
“Looking at recent media reports the Presidential Office has no good will for a simple resolution of this issue. Are they hoping to leave the blame to Moon? Or because they feel responsible for these pet animals? We are flabbergasted to see malice of the current administration that is on display at a petty issue as this.”
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety confirmed the federal government was in talks with Moon to supply month-to-month subsidies totaling 2.5 million gained ($1,800) for the animals.
President Yoon, who already has 4 canines and three cats, denied blocking Moon from preserving the canines in a press release from his workplace Monday, saying discussions between related ministries have been ongoing.
“It is not true that former President Moon Jae-in tried to come up with a basis for raising the Pungsan dogs but the presidential office objected,” the assertion mentioned.
Dogs have traditionally been an emblem of thawing ties between the Koreas. In 2000, Kim Jong Il gave two Pungsan puppies – named Uri and Duri – to Kim Dae-jung. The South Korean chief returned the favor with two Jindo canines named Peace and Reunification.