A South Korean opposition lawmaker sharply criticized the current administration on West Sea Defense Day, accusing the government of emboldening North Korea through a series of policy decisions.
The lawmaker took aim at moves to scale back joint military exercises with the U.S., replace firearms with non-lethal equipment, and engage in disputes with the UN Command over DMZ access. He also revealed that the administration is considering withdrawing as a co-sponsor of the UN Human Rights Council’s resolution on North Korean human rights — a move he called unacceptable.
He noted that North Korea has never apologized for the ROKS Cheonan sinking, and argued that softening the country’s stance on North Korean human rights under those circumstances sends the wrong message.
The lawmaker also called for the immediate dismissal of the Unification Minister, citing the use of North Korean terminology in official communications and a public push to distance the government from the UN human rights resolution.
He warned that continued deference to Pyongyang would expose the administration’s stated moderate conservative platform as politically hollow. Opposition party leadership attended the West Sea Defense Day ceremony, with the lawmaker urging citizens across party lines to unite in honoring those who died defending the country.