Kim Jong Un's Threatening Remarks: Ruling Party Calls for "Cooperation," Opposition Demands "Firm Response"

Kim Jong Un: "Is South Korea Safe?"
Presidential Office Stresses 'Dialogue and Cooperation'
Ruling and Opposition Parties Clash Over Contrasting Stances

On October 5, the ruling and opposition parties expressed opposing views regarding North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong Un's remarks threatening South Korea during his speech at the Pyongyang Armed Equipment Exhibition the previous day. The ruling party urged North Korea to cooperate for peace, while the opposition party called for a strong government response.

Park Ji-hye, spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Korea, referred to Chairman Kim's remarks during a briefing at the National Assembly, stating, "We hope that North Korea will join the path of cooperation for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the international community." She added, "The Lee Jae-myung administration, as the government of the people's sovereignty, is continuing the efforts of former Presidents Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, and Moon Jae-in to establish a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula, and is persistently striving for peace." She urged, "We hope North Korea will respond positively to proposals for dialogue and cooperation for peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and in the international community." She continued, "The Democratic Party will continue to make patient and sustained efforts for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula."

North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong Un said in a speech at the National Commendation Ceremony for Overseas Operation Units held at the Central Committee Headquarters building, "The fact that military officers in their 30s and 40s physically blocked the red infiltration point and chose the path of self-destruction was a strong shock," according to Korean Central Television on the 22nd. Korean Central Television footage, Yonhap News.

In contrast, the People Power Party emphasized, "As North Korea's threats continue, we must maintain a thorough security posture even during the holidays." Son Beom-gyu, spokesperson for the People Power Party, stated in a commentary, "Kim Jong Un's threats are a strategy to strengthen his position and gain the upper hand in inter-Korean or North Korea-U.S. relations." He argued, "Compared to Kim Jong Un's provocative words and actions, our government's North Korea policy is inadequate and unstable." He went on to say, "We must strengthen alliances with friendly nations to preemptively deter North Korea's provocations," and urged, "The government must respond clearly and firmly to North Korea's threats."

According to a report by the Korean Central News Agency on the same day, Chairman Kim stated at the Armed Equipment Exhibition held in Pyongyang the previous day, "Whether South Korean territory can ever be a safe place is for them to judge themselves." The presidential office responded to Chairman Kim's remarks by stating, "We hope North Korea will join the path of dialogue and cooperation for peace and stability not only on the Korean Peninsula but also in the international community."