Dogs gifted by Kim Jong Un at center of South row

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA >> A pair of dogs gifted by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in 2018 are now mired in a South Korean political row, with the former president blaming his successor for a lack of financial support as he gave the animals up. Moon Jaein, a liberal who left office in May, received the two white “Pungsan” hunting dogs from Kim following their peace summit in September 2018. The dogs are officially considered state property, but Moon took the pair and one of their seven offspring home after he left office. Moon’s office on Monday said he decided he could no longer raise the three dogs because the current government of President Yoon Suk Yeol was refusing to cover the costs for the animals’ food and veterinary care.