A day after Prime Minister Hun Sen assailed the leaders of a search for a crashed tourist plane last week, a South Korean official Friday praised the effort.
Thirteen South Koreans were aboard the flight, which crashed in the coastal mountains in heavy rains last week, killing 22.
Park Sung Vam, president of the Cambodia-Korean Parliamentary Friendship Group, extended on behalf of his country "deep gratitude" to searchers, who took two and a half days to find the wreckage.
Hun Sen adviser Eang Sophalette said Friday the Koreans were praising the efforts of Hun Sen, who directed the search from the provincial capital of Kampot. A prolonged search meant survivors of the crash may have died of injuries, the adviser said.
Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker Son Chhay said the South Koreans may have been "sarcastic" in their remarks.