On Monday, the People Power Party criticized President Lee Jae Myung for his remarks on the 107th anniversary of the March 1 Movement. They accused him of desecrating the memory of patriotic martyrs by using the occasion to appease North Korea, rejecting hostile acts towards the North and stating he would not pursue unification by absorption.
Park Seong-hoon, the party’s chief spokesperson, issued a statement saying that at the March 1 ceremony, it was hard to tell if President Lee was speaking as the Commander-in-Chief of South Korea or as a North Korean spokesperson.
Park added that President Lee again extended what amounts to a begging hand for dialogue, urging Kim Jong Un’s regime to come to the negotiating table. Is this truly befitting a president who claims to uphold the spirit of independence?
He continued that during a solemn event honoring those who gave their lives for independence, the president even discussed North Korea’s internal economic plans. This regime threatens us with nuclear weapons and missiles. The public can only feel dismayed. This undermines the noble spirit of the March 1 Movement and insults the ancestors’ sacrifices in an attempt to appease North Korea.
Park emphasized that North Korea has already labeled South Korea an eternal enemy and is openly escalating its nuclear threats. Yet, President Lee insists on reinstating the September 19 military agreement, which constrains the military under the guise of preemptive measures. While the adversary constantly seeks opportunities to provoke them, the government is voluntarily weakening the security under the pretense of peace.
He warned that a one-sided infatuation that only sees goodwill from North Korea doesn’t bring peace; it invites greater threats. President Lee must face the harsh reality of international politics: true peace is maintained through overwhelming strength, not by begging.
Park concluded that it’s time to wake up from these delusional, rosy fantasies about North Korea. It demands that the focus be on strengthening the robust U.S.-South Korea alliance and bolstering the security posture.
In contrast, during his speech commemorating the 107th anniversary of the March 1 Movement, President Lee stated that its government respects North Korea’s regime and will not pursue any hostile acts or attempt unification by absorption. It will continue our efforts to resume dialogue with North Korea. As a facilitator, he will engage with the U.S. and neighboring countries to ensure that talks between North Korea and the U.S. resume promptly.