[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Nahum] Park Ji-won, a four-term National Assembly member and distinguished professor at Dankook University, predicted that "the Joint Liaison Office will be destroyed and there is a high possibility of provocations from the military" in response to Kim Yo-jong, the First Deputy Director of the Workers' Party of Korea, hinting at retaliation for the distribution of anti-North Korean leaflets.
On the 13th, Professor Park stated on Facebook, "Kim Yo-jong said, 'We intend to hand over the authority to take hostile actions to the General Staff. You will witness the miserable sight of the Joint Liaison Office collapsing without a trace.'"
He added, "The North Korean authorities also warn that they trust our government's measures and that destruction or provocations must never occur," and emphasized, "Our government should respond calmly, activate diplomatic channels, and actively consider dispatching a special envoy."
Professor Park also criticized the National Assembly, which has recently been in conflict over the organization of parliamentary committees, saying, "It is not the time for the ruling and opposition parties to fight over the chairmanship of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee," and pointed out, "The country is in a difficult situation."
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