South Korea’s former president is set to give up a pair of dogs given to him by Kim Jong Un, citing a lack of support from his successor.
Moon Jae-in has raised the white Pungsan dogs named Gomi and Songgang that were given to him by North Korea’s leader following their 2018 summit.
He took them to his personal residence after his term ended in May.
The dogs are legally categorised as state property belonging to the presidential archives, but Mr Moon’s office said he was entrusted as their caretaker under consultations with the archives and the interior ministry.
The agencies had been working on a legal amendment to facilitate the move, including financial support.
But that move fell apart due to “unexplained opposition” from the administration of incumbent President Yoon Suk-yeol, Mr Moon’s office said.
“The presidential office seems to be negative toward entrusting the management of the Pungsan dogs to former President Moon,” Mr Moon’s office said on Facebook.
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“If that’s the case, we can be cool about it, as such an entrustment is based on the goodwill of both sides… though ending it is regretful given they are companion animals he grew attached to.”
Mr Yoon’s office said the agencies are still discussing the situation and it has not played any role.
The Chosun Ilbo daily, citing unnamed government and parliamentary officials, reported earlier that there was debate over whether to provide Mr Moon with monthly subsidies totalling some £1,600.
The interior ministry, which oversees the presidential archives, did not immediately respond to requests for comment by Reuters news agency.
