"Received Western Thought and Human Rights Education... Wondering if They Are Happy in Their Current Lives"
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, said that if he met Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, he would ask, "Are you happy now? Why do you live like that?"
On the 18th, Lee attended an invited discussion titled "MZ Generation, Asking About the Future of the Korean Peninsula" held at Seoul National University, and said, "Has there ever been anyone who could ask Kim Jong-un such a question? If he were a North Korean, he might have been shot, and if he were a South Korean, he might have hesitated."
Lee shared an anecdote about trying to contact Kim Jong-un in the past. He said, "A long time ago, I tried sending an email to what was said to be Kim Jong-un's Gmail address, but I never got a reply."
He added, "Did he ever think that at the age of 28, he would live a life as the supreme leader of North Korea? Even I never dreamed that I would become the party leader and engage in politics like this." He continued, "From the outside, people might see me as having achieved political success in just ten years, but I still have regrets about things I couldn't do. I think Kim Jong-un must feel the same."
Lee further explained, "Having traveled around the world and been educated in Western ideas, he must have also been educated about human rights issues. Is living a life contrary to that education truly a happy one? I wonder how much sorrow he holds in his heart."
Regarding the current administration's declaration of the end of the war, Lee criticized, "Mentioning the end-of-war declaration hastily near the end of the term seems more like aiming for the political effect of the declaration rather than a plan to complete the peace process on the Korean Peninsula."
When asked, "If the People Power Party comes to power, how do you plan to lead denuclearization?" he replied, "Even if our government takes office, promoting rapid achievements in a short period would be deceiving the public. It is important to uphold proper reciprocal principles in North Korea policy."
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