Jung Se-hyun: "President Must Make Decision to Suspend ROK-US Joint Military Exercises"

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] Jeong Se-hyun, Senior Vice Chairman of the National Unification Advisory Council, stated on the 12th that regarding North Korea's strong backlash against the implementation of the ROK-US joint military exercises, "President Moon Jae-in should make a decision to suspend the ROK-US joint exercises within today or tomorrow."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Senior Vice Chairman Jeong appeared on TBS Radio's 'Kim Eo-jun's News Factory' and commented on the escalating tension caused by Kim Yo-jong, Deputy Director of the North Korean Workers' Party, and Kim Yong-chol, Director of the Party's United Front Department, who issued consecutive statements criticizing South Korea. He said, "A decision to suspend the latter part of the exercises, which North Korea fears, must be made within today or tomorrow." This implies that since the main exercises are scheduled to begin on the 16th, suspension measures should be taken even now.

Regarding the ROK-US joint exercises being conducted as command post exercises, Senior Vice Chairman Jeong pointed out, "Although it is a simulation, it includes the concept of decapitating Kim Jong-un and is a training preparing for full-scale war, so North Korea cannot help but feel threatened."

Senior Vice Chairman Jeong emphasized, "The communication line was restored on July 27, and the public was filled with hope that 'spring is coming again to the Korean Peninsula,' but we must not let it end as a fleeting dream after only 14 days."

He further argued, "In President Moon's Liberation Day speech on the 15th, there should be a message that the first half of the exercises will proceed as planned, but the latter half will be suspended, reflecting a coordinated stance between South Korea and the US."

Senior Vice Chairman Jeong said, "On the 10th, Kim Yo-jong, Deputy Director of the Workers' Party, issued a statement indicating it was under Kim Jong-un's orders, and on the 11th, they released a statement corresponding to an action plan. If we do not provide them with a way to retreat, their words will inevitably turn into actions."

He criticized, "When we respond to what the North says, they raise issues as if it were 'orders.' They are people without the mindset to run a country."

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