Han Jeong-ae: "Stop Political Strife Over Whether It Was Defection to North Korea and Implement Measures to Prevent Recurrence"

Han Jeong-ae, the Policy Committee Chair of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the 29th and delivering opening remarks.
[Photo by Asia Economy]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hana Nah] Han Jeong-ae, Chair of the Policy Committee of the Democratic Party of Korea, addressed concerns regarding the authorities' assessment that the public official killed by North Korean gunfire was attempting to defect to the North, stating that "it is reasonable to assume that the individual moved in a specific direction of their own volition," and emphasized that "conducting a joint investigation to clarify the facts and establishing measures to prevent recurrence are absolutely necessary actions."

On the 30th, in a post on her Facebook page, Chair Han said, "If someone accidentally slips but manages to grab onto floating debris, it is natural for anyone to try to stay near the boat," adding, "It is reasonable to assume that moving away from the boat against the current indicates the individual moved in a specific direction of their own will."

She continued, "While the inhumane behavior displayed by the North afterward deserves condemnation and criticism, it is still unlikely that the political sphere will objectively assess the situation?where (defection circumstances) have emerged?without engaging in political strife," criticizing the opposition party's ongoing attacks.

She further stated, "It is essential for the South and North to cooperate in recovering the body, to do their best, and to clarify the facts through a joint investigation and establish measures to prevent recurrence," expressing hope for "an active response from the North side."

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