From Nuclear Armament to Abolishing the Ministry of Unification... United Party Urges Tougher Stance on North Korea (Comprehensive Report 2)

"Ruling Party Must Withdraw Resolution Urging End-of-War Declaration"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] The United Future Party has called for a strong response to North Korea's demolition of the inter-Korean joint liaison office. At the United Future Party's Foreign Affairs and Security Special Committee meeting, voices were raised calling for military and diplomatic measures ranging from withdrawing the National Assembly's ratification of the Panmunjom Declaration to nuclear armament and the abolition of the Ministry of Unification.

Park Jin, chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Security Special Committee, told reporters immediately after the meeting held at the National Assembly on the afternoon of the 17th, “We urge a resolute and firm response for genuine denuclearization, peace, and the establishment of proper inter-Korean relations, including halting the ratification of the Panmunjom Declaration, withdrawing the resolution urging the declaration of the end of the war, and repealing the law banning the distribution of leaflets to North Korea.”

Regarding the remark by Song Young-gil, chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee of the Democratic Party of Korea, who said, “Is there anywhere that was not blown up except for the PO?” Jo Su-jin said, “It is a reckless statement that justifies North Korea’s provocation,” adding, “We do not recognize the six standing committee chairpersons elected unilaterally. We will review the disqualification of Chairman Song and others.”

Strong remarks poured out at the Foreign Affairs and Security Special Committee meeting that day. 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 added, “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 “The next administration should consider abolishing the Ministry of Unification.”

Kim Woo-sang, vice chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Security Special Committee, pointed out, “Looking at past cases, depending on how the ROK-U.S. alliance responded, North Korea expressed regret and did not worsen the situation,” and said, “We must show a posture of announcing, delivering, and preparing joint exercises such as the ROK-U.S. combined exercises, which have been postponed so far through ROK-U.S. cooperation, to prevent the current situation from worsening.”

Jo Tae-yong, a former first vice minister of foreign affairs, said, “The National Assembly’s ratification of the Panmunjom Declaration and the resolution urging the declaration of the end of the war should be withdrawn, and the promotion of the law banning the distribution of leaflets to North Korea should also be stopped,” adding, “We need to reveal and review the problems of the North Korea policy pursued by the Moon administration 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, said, “We must maintain military readiness thoroughly and respond decisively when North Korea commits military provocations,” and “It is time to completely abolish the inter-Korean military agreement.”

Taeyongho, a lawmaker who defected from North Korea, said, “As of the 17th, our country’s entire diplomatic status has changed from that of a mediator to that of a victim,” and added, “The government must take active diplomatic measures such as an emergency submission to the Security Council regarding the brutal infringement of the state and the people’s property, and start legal battles such as seizing North Korean assets for property damage.” He continued, “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 distributes leaflets to the South, we should announce the start of loudspeaker broadcasts toward the North.”

Jiseongho said, “The most important measure the government should take is to strengthen the ROK-U.S. alliance. I hope they will communicate with the U.S. even today and work hard on international public opinion,” and said, “The qualifications of Kim Yo-jong, the first deputy director of the Workers’ Party, are questionable. I hope she does not take the Republic of Korea lightly.”

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