The First National Defense Committee Meeting Held Without Opposition Party... "Unacceptable That United Party Did Not Attend"

Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo attended the National Defense Committee plenary session at the National Assembly on the 22nd and delivered a work report. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy reporters Lee Ji-eun and Kim Hye-min] Amid escalating North Korean nuclear provocations, the first National Defense Committee meeting of the 21st National Assembly was held on the 22nd without the attendance of lawmakers from the main opposition party. This occurred as the members of the United Future Party boycotted the standing committee activities in protest against the Democratic Party's unilateral election of the committee chairperson. Min Hong-chul, the chairman of the National Defense Committee, raised his voice, urging, "We hope the main opposition party will attend as soon as possible."

At the first National Defense Committee meeting held at the National Assembly that day, Chairman Min said, "There is no distinction between ruling and opposition parties when it comes to national defense. It is very regrettable that the main opposition party is not participating in the meeting." He added, "Recently, inter-Korean relations and the security situation surrounding the Korean Peninsula have been progressing unpredictably. We hope the main opposition party will attend soon so that security issues can be discussed." On that day, all judiciary committee members from the United Future Party were absent from the National Defense Committee meeting. They continued to boycott the standing committee in protest of the ruling party's unilateral election of the judiciary committee chairperson.

Lawmakers attending the meeting also pointed out the opposition party's absence. Hwang Hee, a Democratic Party lawmaker, said, "National defense should not be a subject of partisan conflict. Regardless of other issues, it is incomprehensible and unacceptable that they refuse to attend the standing committee due to judiciary committee issues while national security is threatened and public anxiety is increasing." Hong Young-pyo, also from the Democratic Party, said, "There is no distinction between ruling and opposition parties in national defense. Bipartisan cooperation should be possible at least within the National Defense Committee."

The United Future Party has yet to end its boycott and is responding to security issues through the Special Committee on Foreign Affairs and Security. On the 19th, they proposed a bipartisan 'Joint Foreign Affairs and Security Meeting' to the Democratic Party. Park Jin, chairman of the United Future Party's Special Committee on Foreign Affairs and Security, said at the emergency committee meeting that day, "Since the standing committee is dysfunctional due to the ruling party's reckless actions, we proposed a joint meeting between ruling and opposition parties." He added, "We will have the emergency committee approve a resolution condemning North Korea's provocations against the South and urging nuclear disarmament, then collect signatures from party members to adopt it as party policy," signaling an independent course of action.

Meanwhile, at the first National Defense Committee meeting that day, Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo delivered a briefing on his duties and reported on North Korea's internal and external trends as well as military developments. Minister Jeong said, "Amid rising tensions due to North Korea's continuous verbal attacks against the South and the demolition of the inter-Korean joint liaison office, the non-traditional security threat of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) is threatening our people. Our military is maintaining a defense posture capable of responding to all these situations and any unforeseen threats."

Furthermore, the Ministry of National Defense reported that it views North Korea's recent threatening intentions as attempts to pressure the South through practical measures following Kim Yo-jong's statement, strengthening regime cohesion linked to hostile mass rallies against the South, and pressuring a shift in U.S. North Korea policy by escalating the security crisis on the Korean Peninsula. It stated that it will closely monitor North Korean military movements 24 hours a day. The ministry emphasized maintaining a firm military readiness posture capable of rapid response to all situations, managing the situation stably to prevent escalation of military crises, and responding strongly if North Korea carries out military provocations.

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