Moon's 'Proposal for End-of-War Declaration' Criticized by Opposition Presidential Candidates... "Undermining Security, Deceptive Act Against the Public"

Yoo Seung-min, Hong Joon-pyo, and Won Hee-ryong in Unison
"No End-of-War Declaration Without Resolving North Korea's Nuclear Issue"

[Photo by Seungmin Yoo, former lawmaker, Facebook capture]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] On the 24th, the presidential candidates of the People Power Party collectively issued critical messages regarding the ceasefire declaration proposed by President Moon Jae-in. They pointed out that North Korea set conditions that undermine the security of the Republic of Korea as prerequisites for the ceasefire declaration and highlighted the failure to uphold agreements between the South and the North.

Former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min stated on Facebook on the 25th, "Yesterday, Kim Yo-jong, deputy director of the North Korean Workers' Party, expressed her position on the 'ceasefire declaration' proposed by President Moon at the United Nations. She cited the withdrawal of hostile policies toward North Korea, the removal of U.S. troops stationed in South Korea and U.S. strategic assets deployed on the Korean Peninsula, and the suspension of South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises as preconditions for the ceasefire declaration." He added, "This once again clarified North Korea's stance on the ceasefire declaration."

Former lawmaker Yoo criticized, "The Blue House said that North Korea's immediate response to President Moon's proposal was positive. What exactly is positive about that?" He continued, "Are they willing to accept the absurd conditions proposed by Kim Yo-jong that would undermine South Korea's security?"

He further warned, "I issue a warning to the Moon administration," and argued, "With only eight months left in its term, the administration must not recklessly jeopardize the foundation of South Korea's security in pursuit of regime continuation."

On the same day, Yeo Myung, spokesperson for the campaign of People Power Party lawmaker Hong Joon-pyo, directly criticized President Moon's remarks on the ceasefire declaration as a "deceptive peace talk followed by a public deception drama."

Spokesperson Yeo stated, "There can be no ceasefire declaration without resolving the North Korean nuclear issue," adding, "All declarations and agreements become meaningless in the face of the increasingly real North Korean nuclear threat."

He continued, "Since the armistice, North Korea has conducted over 3,000 military provocations and broken promises made in hundreds of inter-Korean talks. Just since last year, they blew up the joint liaison office, cut off inter-Korean communication lines, and after shooting our public official at sea, incinerated the body." He added, "It is truly pitiful that the current administration, treated like 'boiled cabbage heads' by such North Korea, mentioned the ceasefire declaration at the United Nations."

He questioned, "Has the North Korean nuclear threat decreased during the Moon administration? Has there been any change in the North Korean regime?" and concluded, "It is time to stop making trouble and quietly prepare for a peaceful exit."

The previous day, former Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong also pointed out on Facebook, "President Moon should fully reconsider the inter-Korean military agreement rather than a ceasefire declaration with North Korea." He criticized, mentioning North Korea's violations of agreements, "A military agreement upheld by only one side is already an 'empty shell.'"