Criticism from the Opposition on Contaminated Water Support
Uncomfortable Sentiments from China and North Korea at the G7 Summit
Concerns are rising among opposition parties regarding President Yoon Suk-yeol's attendance at the Group of Seven (G7) summit scheduled for the 19th in Hiroshima, Japan. Diplomatic challenges surrounding the Korean Peninsula are also mounting.
Amid China's protest over President Yoon's remarks related to Taiwan, there are worries that his tough stance against China at the G7 meeting could further deteriorate South Korea-China relations. There are also criticisms that he might support Japan's discharge of contaminated water.
Kim Jun-hyung, former president of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy, stated on the 18th on the YouTube program "Kim Eo-jun's News Plaza," "Recently, Japan and the United States have been saying to China that this is not 'decoupling' and have toned down their rhetoric. There is a possibility that Korea will be made the 'stooge' or 'frontman' to deliver strong remarks against China at the G7."
He explained that since the U.S. and Japan find it burdensome to directly make tough statements against China, they intend to use South Korea as a 'stooge' to do so on their behalf. Kim added, "(South Korea) is outside the G7," and said, "This is the price of the invitation ticket." This implies that Japan invited President Yoon to the G7 expecting him to make strong statements.
He said, "I think (President Yoon) will make tough remarks," and added, "Afterwards, he will say that it was not at Japan's behest but that he has consistently expressed his own convictions."
China is closely watching what statements President Yoon will make at the G7 summit. A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in South Korea posted a statement on the embassy's WeChat channel the previous day regarding the G7, saying, "During the G7 summit, G7 countries will hold expanded meetings with relevant countries," and added, "We hope that the relevant countries will maintain an objective and fair stance, respect China's core interests, and actively work to safeguard regional and global peaceful development and prosperity." Although the 'relevant countries' were not explicitly named, it appears to refer to South Korea.
Park Ji-won, former director of the National Intelligence Service, expressed concern that this G7 visit could support Japan's discharge of contaminated water from Fukushima. On SBS's "Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show," he raised his voice, saying, "I hope President Yoon's visit to the Japan G7 will be one that absolutely opposes and blocks the discharge of Fukushima nuclear wastewater." He also emphasized on OhmyTV's "Seong Kyung-hwan Asks, Park Ji-won Answers," "Japan is about to discharge Fukushima contaminated water, and (President Yoon) is going there to be a stooge."
North Korea's movements ahead of the G7 summit are also unusual. On the 16th, North Korea announced that Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party, approved the follow-up action plan for the military reconnaissance satellite No. 1. Since this broke Kim's silence after about a month, there are concerns about possible additional provocations during the G7 period. The leaders of South Korea, the U.S., and Japan are expected to hold a summit during the G7 meeting to discuss measures to respond to North Korea's nuclear threat.
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