The People Power Party criticized President Lee Jae Myung on Monday for expressing regret to North Korea over the recent civilian drone incident during a cabinet meeting. They denounced his actions as trampling on the pride of the South Korean people.
Park Seong-hoon, the party’s chief spokesperson, stated in a commentary that the president’s silence on North Korean provocations, while harshly judging its own citizens and bowing his head first, is an act that tramples on the people’s dignity.
Park emphasized that the public is shocked to see the president, who was so reluctant to address the sacrifices of the soldiers and citizens in the face of North Korean aggression, now apologizing to the North Korean dictatorship while condemning this incident as irresponsible and reckless behavior. It must ask: whose president is Lee?
He further questioned about why does someone who spewed harsh words at the families begging for an apology for the Cheonan sinking now grovel before the Kim Jong Un regime?
The spokesperson referenced past incidents where North Korean drones violated South Korean airspace, including flying over the presidential office and the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) base in Seongju. He pointed out that the Kim regime has never apologized or even expressed regret for these violations.
Park warned that such messages could create a dangerous learning effect for North Korea. If it sends the wrong signal that even if they provoke, the South will bow first, it will inevitably lead to even greater provocations in the future.
He asserted that peace cannot be achieved through begging. A submissive attitude of unilaterally bowing the heads is nothing but self-harm to the national security.
Park urged President Lee to immediately withdraw his subservient approach to North Korea, which simultaneously damages military morale and the public’s awareness of national security.
Earlier that day, during a cabinet meeting doubling as an emergency economic review session, President Lee had stated that under this administration, an unprecedented civilian drone incident occurred. Although it was not the government’s intention, it expresses regret to the North for the unnecessary military tension caused by some irresponsible and reckless actions.