On Thursday, the People Power Party criticized North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s disparaging remarks about South Korea. The party stated that the government’s submissive approach, which consistently prioritized inter-Korean dialogue, has backfired, resulting in insults and mockery from North Korea.
Party Secretary General Jeong Hee-yong expressed this sentiment in a Facebook post that afternoon, saying that the Lee Jae Myung administration’s North Korea policy is reminiscent of the fake peace promoted by the previous Moon Jae-in administration.
Jeong pointed out that under the current government, officials have proactively halted anti-North Korean leaflet distribution and loudspeaker broadcasts, while consistently advocating for easing sanctions against North Korea as part of a conciliatory approach. He noted that when North Korea suddenly claimed its drones had infiltrated the airspace, President Lee called it a serious crime. Over a month later, the Minister of Unification expressed the government’s official regret.
Jeong continued that today, however, Kim Jong Un mocked the government’s conciliatory stance, calling it a clumsy deception and a poor performance. He also told the U.S. that there’s no reason it can’t get along if they revoke the hostile policies. The Lee administration must clearly explain to the public the true intentions behind North Korea’s insulting rhetoric.
He added that while dialogue can be a strategic tool, negotiations based solely on concessions, without deterrence and principles, cannot protect the citizens’ lives and property.
Representative Kim Gun, secretary of the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, also commented on North Korea’s message from its 9th Party Congress. He stated that Kim’s hostile two states stance, presented at the end of 2023, is clearly not a temporary tactic but a consistent strategy for regime survival. It needs to reassess the North Korea policy direction.
Rep. Kim Gun explained that North Korea has repeatedly pressured us with unacceptable demands such as abandoning territorial and unification clauses, abolishing the Ministry of Unification, halting joint U.S.-South Korea military exercises, and giving up denuclearization as ‘conditions for dialogue. Yet, they’ve expected improved relations by prioritizing conciliatory measures like halting broadcasts to North Korea, expressing intentions to revive the Kaesong Industrial Complex, apologizing for drone claims, and discussing reductions in joint military exercises.
He remarked that as a result, they’ve received declarations of the permanent exclusion from discussions and threats of preemptive nuclear strikes, not dialogue. While easing tensions is important, it must not come at the cost of the policy autonomy and national security.
During a business summary report, General Secretary Kim maintained a hardline position, stating that South Korea would be permanently excluded from the category of brethren.
Kim specifically rejected the Lee administration’s conciliatory policies, dismissing them as a clumsy deception and a poor performance.
