On Sunday, Ahn Cheol Soo, a member of the People Power Party running for the party’s leadership, criticized President Lee Jae-myung, asking if he’s considering commemorating the Chinese troops like Kim Jong Un. He urged the President to come to his senses for the sake of national interest.
Ahn made this statement on Facebook, noting that the day marked the 72nd anniversary of the armistice agreement and UN Forces Participation Day.
He pointed out that North Korea claims today as Victory Day in its war against the United States, and Kim Jong Un visited the Friendship Tower to honor the Chinese troops who participated in the Korean War. He criticized that President Lee Jae-myung has remained completely silent today, adding that he sincerely hopes the President is not considering commemorating the Chinese troops like Kim Jong Un.
Ahn noted that a crucial tariff negotiation is scheduled for Thursday between Koo Yun Cheol, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance of South Korea, and Scott Bessent, U.S. Treasury Secretary. This negotiation takes place just a day before the U.S. deadline for imposing mutual tariffs. He stated that the atmosphere between South Korea and the U.S. is strained, criticizing that trade talks have been canceled, and Wi Sung Lac, the South Korean National Security Director, returned home without even meeting with Rubio, U.S. Secretary of State.
He emphasized that while it could be a negotiation pressure tactic from the U.S. side, it’s clear that the South Korea-U.S. relationship is not what it used to be. Ahn pointed out that the schedule for the summit remains unconfirmed, and that even working-level discussions are not proceeding smoothly.
Ahn concluded that the South Korean government should not just wait until Thursday but must immediately engage in comprehensive contact with the U.S. He urged that the government must handle these tariff negotiations properly.