President Moon "Opposition lacks understanding of the end-of-war declaration"
Yoo Seung-min "Even half the effort spent on North Korea should respect the people"
[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] Yoo Seung-min, a presidential candidate from the People Power Party and former lawmaker, sharply criticized President Moon Jae-in, who recently proposed a declaration of the end of the war at the UN General Assembly, saying, "He remains silent in the face of North Korea's rebuke but only scolds the opposition party."
On the 24th, Yoo posted on his social media (SNS) under the title "President Moon, who is too lacking in understanding, the people are very frustrated."
He said, "President Moon said about his UN General Assembly remarks, 'Looking at the opposition party's reaction, there is really no understanding.' However, Ri Thae-sung, North Korea's Vice Foreign Minister, rebuked him by saying, 'A declaration of the end of the war is just a piece of paper, an illusion. It is not yet time to declare the end of the war.'"
He added, "The people who have to witness this familiar scene are frustrated," and "Can't you at least respect the people and the opposition party even half as much as the devotion you show to North Korea?"
President Moon Jae-in is delivering a keynote speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, USA, on the 21st (local time). / Photo by Yonhap News
Earlier on the 24th, President Moon held a press briefing on the presidential plane returning from his visit to the United States and criticized, "I thought the opposition party really lacks understanding about the declaration of the end of the war."
He continued, "The declaration of the end of the war corresponds to the entrance to peace negotiations. It is a kind of political declaration saying, 'Let's end the war now and enter peace negotiations,'" and explained, "Its legal status does not change, and the relations under the armistice agreement continue as they are."
President Moon said, "A more strategic review is needed regarding when and to what extent the declaration of the end of the war should be utilized," and added, "There is consensus that the declaration of the end of the war is necessary, and once inter-Korean and North Korea-US talks begin, it will inevitably progress."
Meanwhile, Ri Thae-sung, Vice Foreign Minister, issued a statement on the morning of the 24th saying that "the declaration of the end of the war is premature," but later, Kim Yo-jong, Deputy Director of the North Korean Workers' Party, said, "The declaration of the end of the war is not bad," and stated, "A declaration of the end of the war, which physically ends the long-standing unstable armistice status on the Korean Peninsula and withdraws hostility toward the other side, is an interesting proposal and a good idea."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
