Kim Jong-in "Moon Administration's Inter-Korean Relations Are Fiction"... Han Ki-ho "Let's Abolish the Ministry of Unification" (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Lee Ji-eun and Lim Chun-han] Kim Jong-in, Emergency Committee Chairman of the United Future Party, pointed out that North Korea's demolition of the inter-Korean joint liaison office proves that the Moon administration's inter-Korean relations were a fiction. United Future Party lawmakers also raised their voices, saying, "Let's abolish the Ministry of Unification," and "We must take measures to seize North Korean assets."

Chairman Kim attended the United Future Party's Foreign Affairs and Security Special Committee held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 17th and said, "Even now, the Moon administration should re-examine various matters brought about by inter-Korean relations so far and consider whether inter-Korean relations can be realized in the name of peace."

He said, "It seems that the Panmunjom Declaration promises between President Moon and Chairman Kim Jong-un have been broken, and the September 19 military agreement was unilaterally broken by North Korea, as proven by yesterday's demolition," and questioned, "North Korea was in a difficult internal situation and economically impoverished, expecting economic support from the South, but since that expectation was not met, they took action."

Chairman Kim said, "No matter how much we alone shout for peace, if the other side does not respond, peace cannot be achieved," and added, "If peace had not existed for the past 70 years, peace could never be achieved today."

He continued, "In inter-Korean relations, the Moon administration should distinguish between what is practically possible and impossible," adding, "As a member of the international community and due to relations with allies like the United States, there are inevitably many constraints, but inter-Korean relations have been pursued under the so-called illusion that these could be resolved independently."

Park Jin, chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Security Special Committee, said, "The demolition of the symbol of inter-Korean cooperation and peace is essentially a military provocation," and added, "The Moon administration should abandon its outdated and unrealistic conciliatory policy toward North Korea and fundamentally reconsider its North Korea policy from scratch."

He also urged, "The Democratic Party of Korea is ignoring security realities by submitting resolutions urging an end-of-war declaration even after North Korea's declaration of hostility," and called, "Withdraw the unilateral formation of the National Assembly now. We will cooperate on a bipartisan basis."

In additional remarks, he said, "The public needs to know that the liaison office demolished yesterday is located in the middle of the Kaesong Industrial Complex," and pointed out, "Demolishing a building within an international trade, industrial, commercial, and tourism zone built with taxpayers' money without permission is not only a threat to South Korea but also a provocation and act of terrorism against the world."

Han Ki-ho, a former three-star general and vice chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Security Special Committee, emphasized, "North Korea is acting this way because it trusts its nuclear weapons," and said, "Nuclear weapons can only be countered with nuclear weapons. This must be seriously considered." He also said, "The Ministry of Unification, which misled us about North Korea, should now be reconsidered for its existence," and added, "The next administration should consider abolishing the Ministry of Unification."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Kim Woo-sang, vice chairman and professor of political science and diplomacy at Yonsei University, also said, "Looking at past cases, how the South Korea-U.S. alliance responded determined whether North Korea expressed regret and did not worsen the situation," and pointed out, "Through South Korea-U.S. cooperation, we should show a posture of announcing, delivering, and preparing for joint South Korea-U.S. military exercises that have been postponed so far to prevent the current situation from worsening."

Cho Tae-yong, a former first vice minister of foreign affairs, said, "The National Assembly's ratification plan for the Panmunjom Declaration and the resolution urging an end-of-war declaration should be withdrawn, and the push for a law banning the distribution of leaflets to North Korea should also be stopped," adding, "We need to reveal and review the problems of the Moon administration's North Korea policy over the past three years and create a new North Korea policy." Shin Won-sik, a former chief of operations at the Joint Chiefs of Staff, emphasized, "We must maintain military readiness thoroughly and respond decisively if North Korea commits a military provocation," and said, "It is time to completely abolish the inter-Korean military agreement."

Former defector and committee member Tae Yong-ho said, "As of the 17th, our country's diplomatic status has changed from that of a mediator to that of a victim," and said, "Regarding the brutal infringement of the state's and people's property, the government must take active diplomatic measures such as an emergency submission to the Security Council and start legal battles such as seizing North Korean assets."

He emphasized, "We must abandon the unrealistic policy of partially lifting UN sanctions to induce denuclearization and establish a policy of maintaining and strengthening UN-agreed sanctions to pave the way for nuclear dismantlement," and added, "If North Korea continues leaflet distribution against the South, we should announce the start of loudspeaker broadcasts toward North Korea."

Committee member Ji Sung-ho also said, "The most important measure the government should take is to strengthen the South Korea-U.S. alliance. I hope they will communicate with the U.S. even today and work hard on international public opinion," and said, "Kim Yo-jong's status as the first deputy department head of the Workers' Party is questionable. I hope she does not underestimate the Republic of Korea."

Committee member Cho Soo-jin said, "I demanded the replacement of the incompetent foreign affairs and security line at the Blue House, but there has been no response," and said, "Democratic Party lawmakers are making statements that make one doubt their ears, such as 'Isn't it good that it wasn't blown up with a cannon?' and 'A defector was elected and provoked North Korea.' I cannot help but ask whether this is a government and ruling party that think about national governance."

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