[2024 National Audit] Defense Committee National Audit Hearing Dispute Over Deployment of North Korean Troops

Democratic Party: "Yoon Seok-yeol Government's Foreign Policy Failure"
People Power Party: "Logical Leap and Biased Perspective"

On the 24th, the ruling and opposition parties clashed over the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia, which is at war with Ukraine, during the National Defense Committee's comprehensive audit at the National Assembly.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Byung-joo stated, "The current security crisis is due to the failure of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's foreign policy," and claimed, "President Yoon declared Russia an enemy country during his visit to Ukraine and indirectly supported artillery shells." Kim raised his voice, saying, "The Yoon Seok-yeol administration must face historical judgment for this major diplomatic and security disaster."

Democratic Party lawmaker Ahn Kyu-baek, regarding rumors of lethal weapon support to Ukraine, said, "President Yoon seems unaware of boundaries and appears to want war," and pointed out, "Considering the possibility of restoring relations with Russia, support beyond humanitarian aid would be crossing an irreversible river."

People Power Party lawmaker Lim Jong-deuk rebutted Kim's claim that the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia stems from the "diplomatic disaster of the Yoon Seok-yeol government," calling it a "logical leap and a biased perspective." Lim also described President Yoon's visit to Ukraine in July last year as a "symbolic visit of the Free Alliance," emphasizing, "We must stand with the Free Alliance forces and be on their side."

Regarding Kim's assertion that our government indirectly supplied 500,000 rounds of 155mm shells to Ukraine, Lim said, "It was not indirect support but an export to the U.S. as a 'gap filler' (meaning filling the gap in weapon supply)."

Another lawmaker from the same party, Han Ki-ho, argued, "North Korea and Russia have entered an alliance. Is this the time to talk about pride?" and stated, "We should not mention the transfer of wartime operational control with the U.S. and must close the discussion for now. It is natural not to discuss it until the international situation changes again."

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, responding to Democratic Party lawmaker Park Beom-gye's criticism of the presidential office and residence relocation procedures, said, "Seeing you ask questions without even knowing ABC is really too much," and added, "Aren't you asking questions without knowing the context?" This remark drew protests from opposition lawmakers.