Hong Joon-pyo Targets Opposition: "Truly Remarkable Indifference and Nerve"

Criticizing the Democratic Party While Mentioning North Korea's Nuclear Threat
"Willing to Do Worse Than Submission for the People"

Hong Joon-pyo, the People Power Party's presidential primary candidate, is announcing his pledge for a major reform in defense and security at the election camp in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 26th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo criticized the opposition, calling them "truly bold" in response to North Korea's claim of a successful simulated tactical nuclear test.

In a post on Facebook on the 22nd, Mayor Hong pointed out, "Even though a simulated tactical nuclear test capable of killing millions in a single strike was conducted, there is no serious sense of crisis, nor is it treated as an important issue."

He said, "If a tactical nuclear weapon is dropped over Seoul, the nightmare scenario of mutual destruction between the North and South would be triggered, yet we are just letting it pass without any countermeasures. Will you criticize this as security exploitation again?" He added, "The lives and safety of 50 million citizens are at stake, yet there is such remarkable indifference and boldness."

This appears to be a critique of the opposition's focus solely on criticizing the government regarding the South Korea-Japan summit, despite the escalating nuclear threat from North Korea.

On the previous day, Mayor Hong also targeted the opposition, stating, "The opposition is intensifying its campaign of submissive diplomacy, but what truly matters to us is not submission. The president can choose even greater measures than submission to protect the lives and property of 50 million citizens."

He continued, "To break free from the deepened state of slavery to North Korea's nuclear weapons, which originated from the Democratic Party administration's disguised peace show, the president must be willing to endure any humiliation beyond submission." He questioned, "North Korea has even carried out a nuclear warhead test at 800 meters above our heads, and if that becomes a reality with a nuclear bomb detonating 800 meters above Yongsan, more than half of Seoul's citizens would die instantly. What could the president not do to protect the country and its people in such a situation?"

He emphasized, "Now is the time to further solidify the South Korea-U.S.-Japan liberal alliance and actively demand NATO-style nuclear sharing from the U.S., like Germany. If we miss this timing, we could become eternal slaves to North Korea's nuclear weapons."