Joo Hoyoung: "We Must Break Free from Futile Illusions about North Korea"... Opposition Submits Request for Parliamentary Probe into Nuclear Power Plant Allegations

Negotiation Group Leader’s Speech
Calls on Ruling Party to Join Parliamentary Investigation

Joo Hoyoung, floor leader of the People Power Party, is delivering a negotiation group representative speech at the National Assembly plenary session on the 3rd. Photo by Yoon Dongjoo doso7@

[Asia Economy, reporter Lee Hyunju] On February 3, Joo Hoyoung, floor leader of the People Power Party, called on the ruling party to participate in a parliamentary investigation into allegations of support for a North Korean nuclear power plant. On the same day, the People Power Party, together with the People’s Party, submitted a request for a parliamentary investigation to the National Assembly’s legislative office regarding the alleged documents related to the Moon Jae-in administration’s plan to build a nuclear power plant in North Korea.

During his negotiation group representative speech at the National Assembly that morning, Floor Leader Joo strongly criticized the current administration’s North Korea policy, stating, “We must break free from the futile illusion about North Korea.” He added, “It is impossible to accept the explanation that the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy independently reviewed plans to build a nuclear power plant in North Korea, even at a time when the government was recklessly pushing for nuclear plant closures.” He further pointed out, “Officials of this administration insist that not even the word ‘nuclear’ was included in the USB (portable storage device) delivered by President Moon Jae-in to Kim Jong-un. Yet, while they urge the opposition to stake everything on disclosing the USB’s contents, why are there so many people who have seen the USB that was handed over to North Korea?”

He argued that the ruling party should take the lead in participating in the parliamentary investigation and reveal the truth to the public. Floor Leader Joo stated, “According to the ‘Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Act,’ this USB must be approved by the Minister of Unification,” and demanded, “The minister is required to keep a record of its contents, so first confirm whether President Moon followed these legal procedures.”

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