Song Young-gil: "Harris, is the ambassador a Joseon Governor-General... Inexperienced in diplomacy as a soldier"

"Government to Actively Push Individual Cards for Geumgangsan Tourism... Special Envoy Should Be Sent to North Korea"

Song Young-gil, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is questioning Minister Kim Yeon-chul during the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee's audit of the Ministry of Unification on the 17th. / Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Won Dara] Song Young-gil, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, strongly criticized Harry Harris, the U.S. Ambassador to South Korea, saying, "What kind of Joseon Governor-General is the ambassador? He is inexperienced in diplomacy." Ambassador Harris sparked controversy on the 16th during a foreign press briefing when he mentioned the South Korean government's plan to promote inter-Korean cooperation projects, stating, "To avoid misunderstandings that could trigger future sanctions, it would be better to handle it through the Korea-U.S. working group."

Song, who serves as the chairman of the Democratic Party's Northeast Asia Peace and Cooperation Special Committee, appeared on MBC Radio on the morning of the 17th and, when asked how to interpret Ambassador Harris's remarks, said, "Those are Ambassador Harris's personal opinions," and also criticized, "I think his remarks are somewhat excessive and not fitting for his position as an ambassador."

He continued, "It's fine for him to express his personal opinion, but if we follow what Ambassador Harris says, what kind of Joseon Governor-General is he?" He added, "An ambassador should be careful with his language according to his duties," and said, "Since he was a military officer and served as the commander of the Pacific Fleet, I think he might be somewhat inexperienced in diplomacy."

Regarding whether the government would push forward the card of individual tours to Mount Kumgang, Song said, "I think they will actively attempt it." He also emphasized, "Individual tours are not subject to UN sanctions," and "It is not a situation where U.S. approval is required. I believe it should be a situation where understanding and notification are necessary."

On North Korea's recent attitude, he explained, "Seeing that they could not deliver Tamiflu, which is not subject to sanctions, North Korea is blaming us," and added, "They are saying, 'What kind of dialogue is there with South Korea that cannot do anything without the U.S. permission?'"

He went on, "Didn’t North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un propose in his New Year's address to resume (Mount Kumgang tourism) unconditionally?" and said, "I think our response to that New Year's address was too passive. If we had immediately pushed for individual tours then, it would have gone quite well, which is regrettable." He also said, "I think a special envoy is needed," and "Someone should be sent to the North to coordinate together."

Meanwhile, criticism of Ambassador Harris's remarks and the U.S. government also came from the Democratic Party leadership on the same day.

Seol Hoon, a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party, expressed "serious regret" at the expanded executive meeting held at the National Assembly in the morning, saying, "Ambassador Harris's imposition of sanctions standards on our government's plan for inter-Korean relations is deeply regrettable," and criticized, "Remarks resembling interference in internal affairs do not help the alliance relationship."

Lee In-young, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, urged the U.S. government to change its stance regarding the Korea-U.S. defense cost-sharing negotiations, saying, "Unilateral burden imposition threatens the foundation of the alliance, and unreasonable demands should not jeopardize the Korea-U.S. alliance."

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