Lee Jae-myung "Strongly Condemns Deployment to North Korea... Yoon Administration Playing War Games"

"Is it a country where shamans decide war?"
"Dispatch of troops requires parliamentary approval... War anxiety must be avoided"

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated, "It is truly wrong for North Korea to send troops to the Ukraine-Russia war."

On the morning of the 28th, at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly, Lee said, "There are many ways for North Korea to survive besides (sending troops)," adding, "there are ways to solve problems and live together without pushing people into the abyss of war in another country." He continued, "We have no choice but to strongly condemn North Korea's stance on sending troops," and urged, "I hope they withdraw even now."

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 28th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

He criticized the South Korean government's response to the North Korean troop dispatch issue. On the same day, he said, "There are talks about shamans and spiritual dialogues surrounding state affairs," and pointed out, "Is the Republic of Korea, a global economic powerhouse, a country where a shaman decides whether to go to war by cutting a chicken's neck and tasting its blood?" This raised suspicions that a shaman was involved in state affairs, quoting testimony from Kang Hye-kyung at the National Assembly audit on the 22nd. Kang testified that there was "a spiritual dialogue between Myung Tae-gyun, a key figure involved in candidate selection interference, and Kim Geon-hee, the wife of President Yoon Seok-yeol."

Lee said, "They say they will dispatch an interrogation team to question North Korean war prisoners," emphasizing, "They seem to be trying to quietly send troops without National Assembly approval, but this must never happen." He also said, "Instead of scheming war, we should focus on people's livelihoods and the economy," adding, "If the administration is struggling, it should engage in dialogue with the opposition and do things that earn the trust and support of the people."

Lee mentioned, "If South Korean National Intelligence Service personnel interrogate North Korean soldiers and any problems arise, how will they handle the repercussions? Is this a war game?" Furthermore, he added, "If those in power impose pain and sacrifice on the people with the authority entrusted by the people, the people and history will surely hold them accountable."