Blue House Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Rebuts 'North Korea Nuclear Power Plant' Two Days in a Row... Opposition Also Faces Steep Confrontation Line

청, 야 주장 무책임한 색깔론 인식 "문 대통령 매우 걱정, 안타까워해"
Nuclear Power Controversy a 'Double-Edged Sword' for 청, Ongoing Turmoil Could Burden Governance

[Asia Economy reporters Ryu Jeong-min and Lee Ji-eun] It is an unusual scene for Choi Jae-sung, the senior secretary for political affairs at the Blue House, to appear on radio broadcasts for two consecutive days and comment on 'political issues.'

This shows the Blue House actively engaging in the 'North Korean nuclear power plant' debate that heated up the political landscape in February. This 'political stance' of the Blue House is closely related to President Moon Jae-in's awareness of the issue.

On the 3rd, Senior Secretary Choi appeared on KBS Radio's 'Kim Kyung-rae's Strongest Current Affairs' and said, "I'm not sure if the term 'rage' is appropriate, but (President Moon) is very worried and distressed," adding, "(The opposition party's) claims and methods are actually difficult to substantiate."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Blue House perceives the suspicion raised by Kim Jong-in, the emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, that our government secretly agreed to build a nuclear power plant in North Korea as an irresponsible political smear ahead of the election.

This is the background for the Blue House's shift to an offensive response. Inside the Blue House, it is judged that public opinion regarding the North Korean nuclear power plant issue is not unfavorable. The perception is spreading that secretly building a nuclear power plant in North Korea without the knowledge of the United States and the international community was never a feasible scenario from the start.

However, there are also views that the Blue House's aggressive drive could be a double-edged sword. The nuclear power plant issue is a representative matter criticized sharply by the opposition party among the Moon Jae-in administration's policies. The amplification of the nuclear power plant controversy could ultimately become a burden for the Blue House. Moreover, the issue of disclosing the portable storage device (USB) that President Moon reportedly handed to North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un is a sensitive matter.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Foreign Minister nominee Chung Eui-yong is also negative about disclosure, citing that it involves confidential materials related to summit talks. It is difficult to conclude that the Blue House has leaned toward disclosure either. Senior Secretary Choi, who had left open the possibility of disclosure if the opposition took political responsibility, said, "We must consider damage to national interests, the public, diplomatic and security matters, as well as the perspectives of other countries and evaluations of the Republic of Korea."

Regarding indirect disclosure through the National Assembly Intelligence Committee, Senior Secretary Choi also expressed concerns about side effects, saying, "Ultimately, many countries in the international community that have diplomatic relations with the Republic of Korea will come to know, and it will remain as a trace."

The North Korean nuclear power plant issue, unfolding in a complex manner with the steep confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties and the Blue House's involvement, is expected to act as a live political powder keg. The opposition party finds it difficult to back down easily as it is an issue led by its leadership.

If the North Korean nuclear power plant issue intertwines with the early shutdown of the Wolseong Unit 1 reactor under investigation by the prosecution at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, there is potential for the controversy to intensify. If the opposition party highlights the nuclear power plant issue through National Assembly questioning of the government, the Blue House cannot avoid considering the political risks. Being caught up in the whirlpool of political controversy itself could become a factor weakening the Blue House's governance momentum.

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