Yoon Gun-young Criticizes Ban Ki-moon Who Said "Don't Beg North Korea" as "A Former UN Secretary-General with Outdated Thinking"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Wondara] Yoon Gun-young, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized Ban Ki-moon, Chairman of the National Climate and Environment Council, saying he is "thinking in an outdated way." Earlier, Chairman Ban criticized the Moon Jae-in administration's North Korea policy during his keynote speech at the 'Global Diplomacy and Security Forum' held at the National Assembly on the 8th, saying, "Do not show a begging attitude toward the North."

On the night of the 8th, Yoon posted on his Facebook, "I am writing this out of a heavy heart," expressing his views.

Yoon said, "I thought Chairman Ban, having served as UN Secretary-General, would understand the Korean Peninsula issue better than anyone else," but added, "I was quite surprised that the main content of today's speech was based on prejudice and preconceived notions."

Yoon refuted Chairman Ban's remarks one by one, saying, "It is precisely this 'thinking' of the Chairman that stems from outdated thinking that has not moved an inch beyond the prejudice and preconceived notion that the Democratic Party government neglects the ROK-US alliance."

He pointed out, "'The Moon Jae-in government is being led by North Korea' or 'showing a begging attitude' are completely unfounded evaluations," adding, "The last three summits and subsequent measures were not created by being led by North Korea. They were the result of our proactive and arduous efforts for the Korean Peninsula peace process."

He continued, "'We should not take the ROK-US alliance lightly' is the same," emphasizing, "The trust relationship between the two leaders is not inferior to any other government, and a close alliance relationship continues to this day."

He also said, "'In some ways, the strategic position has become more precarious' is a difficult assessment to agree with," stating, "The anxiety of war that existed during the previous conservative government is definitely not by our side."

He concluded, "The Moon Jae-in government will walk the path toward denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula based on a stronger ROK-US alliance than ever before and will surely succeed," and added, "As you said, Chairman, peace on the Korean Peninsula is not a matter of political parties but a matter of the fate of the entire Republic of Korea. I sincerely ask you, as a national elder, to shed unilateral prejudice and preconceived notions and uphold principles and balance."