South Korea's Liberty Korea Party Sends Special Envoy to U.S. After 2 Years Amid North Korean Nuclear Threat

Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the Liberty Korea Party, is speaking at the "National Rally to Create a Hopeful Korea Together with the People" held on the 3rd in front of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Gwanghwamun, Seoul. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] As North Korea raises the level of nuclear threats by mentioning 'new strategic weapons,' attention is focused on the background of the Liberty Korea Party dispatching a special envoy delegation to the United States for the first time in about two years. The party also sent a special envoy delegation to the U.S. in September 2017 to convey opinions on the redeployment of tactical nuclear weapons.

On the 3rd, Liberty Korea Party lawmaker Lee Ju-young held a press conference at the National Assembly Press Center in Yeouido, Seoul, regarding the party leader's special envoy delegation's visit to the U.S., stating, "North Korea has effectively declared its intention to possess nuclear weapons and is threatening its allies by using expressions such as 'robber America' and 'shameless America,' yet the Moon Jae-in administration is not taking proactive measures." The special envoy delegation consists of Lee Ju-young, the National Assembly Deputy Speaker, Kang Seok-ho, Chairman of the Overseas Koreans Committee, and Yoo Min-bong, Chairman of the International Committee.

During this visit to the U.S., the Liberty Korea Party special envoy delegation will visit Washington D.C. and Los Angeles from the 6th to the 9th to discuss countermeasures related to North Korea's nuclear issue with U.S. political figures. Lee said, "This visit aims mainly to gather the will of the people who feel frustrated with the government's uniquely lukewarm North Korea policy, convey it to U.S. political circles, and explain the party leader's determination to strengthen the ROK-U.S. alliance and achieve stability in the Northeast Asian region and the denuclearization of North Korea together with allied countries."

He added, "Although the Washington political scene is unsettled, we plan to meet with senators and visit think tanks such as the Heritage Foundation to hold discussions with Korean Peninsula experts, exchange opinions with U.S. government, legislative, and media figures, and hold policy meetings with Korean communities on the East and West coasts of the U.S."

Dispatching a special envoy to the U.S. from the beginning of the new year is interpreted as the Liberty Korea Party, which aims to be a 'security party,' asserting its presence and highlighting the current government's lukewarm response to North Korea's nuclear issue. On the 31st of last month, Party Leader Hwang praised the Liberty Korea Party, saying it has "an image of a competent party strong in economy and security." On the 1st, party spokesperson Lee Chang-soo criticized the government in a statement, saying, "The government has consistently sided with North Korea, and government officials have repeatedly represented North Korea's position, but North Korea's rhetoric has not changed in the new year. North Korea has not even uttered a word about our government or inter-Korean relations," pointing out North Korea's 'government bypass.'

Meanwhile, two years ago in September 2017, the Liberty Korea Party sent a special envoy delegation to meet with members of the U.S. Congress and administration officials to convey the necessity of redeploying tactical nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula. The following month, former party leader Hong Joon-pyo personally visited the U.S. to advocate for tactical nuclear redeployment. Although public opinion in South Korea favoring redeployment grew amid North Korea's nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) programs nearing completion, no significant achievements were made.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.