"Yoon Should Not Remove the Safety Pin of Peace," Criticism Raised
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, recently criticized Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, who has escalated tensions on the Korean Peninsula, saying, "Missile provocations must stop immediately." He also urged President Yoon Suk-yeol to "change the hostile hardline policy."
At the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 19th, Lee warned Kim Jong-un, saying, "Hostile acts must cease. The more reckless provocations continue, the more isolated North Korea will become in the international community, and the suffering of North Korean people will deepen." He added, "We must strive to ensure that the efforts of our predecessors, North Korea’s Kim Jong-il and Kim Il-sung, are not disparaged." Lee did not specifically mention what efforts Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-un made for peace on the Korean Peninsula. He also occasionally referred to North Korea as 'uri Bukhan' (our North Korea).
He also opposed President Yoon’s response. Lee said, "Peace on the Korean Peninsula, which is directly connected to the economy and people's lives, is shaking," and pointed out, "If the neighbor throws stones, throwing bigger stones back to cause bigger wounds will not help us. We must not make the mistake of pulling out the safety pin of peace while trying to teach North Korea a lesson." He compared North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats to 'stones' and our military’s response to 'bigger stones.'
He continued, "People’s worries about the possibility of war are growing. U.S. security experts are mentioning the possibility of war on the Korean Peninsula," and emphasized, "Winning a fight is fundamentally necessary, but we must not fight. Maintaining peace is the real strength."
After the Supreme Council meeting ended that day, the Democratic Party posted Lee’s remarks without the expression 'uri' (our) on the party’s homepage.
In response, Jeong Hee-yong, floor spokesperson for the People Power Party, said, "Kim Jong-un’s predecessors, Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, started wars to communistize the Republic of Korea, causing many people to be killed or injured, and intimidated the international community with nuclear weapons," and questioned, "Does this mean that Kim Jong-un praises and intends to continue such North Korean behavior?" He also criticized, "Since inappropriate perceptions toward North Korea were expressed without filter, the Democratic Party’s current perception of North Korea is deeply concerning."
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