Park Hong-geun "Ruling Party's Nuclear Armament Debate, Who Talks Tougher? Stop Using Security for Political Strife"

"‘Irresponsible Security Business Must Be Stopped Immediately’"

Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is delivering opening remarks at the National Assembly's audit countermeasure meeting held on the 18th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized the ruling party's presidential candidates who advocate for nuclear armament and tactical nuclear deployment as "irresponsible security profiteering" and raised his voice, saying, "It must be stopped immediately."

At the National Assembly's audit countermeasure meeting held that day, Floor Leader Park said, "The security crisis on the Korean Peninsula continues with a strong versus strong standoff, but the ruling party is only focused on 'irresponsible security selling' for party interests," adding, "The person who is supposed to be the party leader suddenly talks about 'tactical nukes,' and yesterday, he did not hesitate to make remarks denying the value of the Korea-US alliance to justify nuclear armament."

Regarding the flood of hardline stances among the ruling party's presidential candidates, he also criticized, "The candidates are rushing to take the lead," and said, "As soon as they succeeded in ousting the former party leader, it seems like a competition over 'whose remarks are stronger.'"

He continued, "How would the residents of Busan Saha-gu, his own constituency, feel about a presidential candidate who openly declares the deployment of tactical nukes there?" and pointed out, "Making reckless claims such as redeploying tactical nukes, nuclear armament, and nullifying the September 19 agreement without any alternatives or strategies will only isolate South Korea in the international community."

He also pointed out that the ruling party's hardline stance does not align with the U.S. strategy toward North Korea. Floor Leader Park said, "The Biden administration promised denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and extended deterrence to the alliance just last week," and added, "Even the U.S. government and experts emphasize dialogue and diplomatic efforts for denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula."

Floor Leader Park sternly warned, "I strongly caution against further abusing security as a tool for political strategy and conflict," and said, "The ruling party, which tries to use security as a means rather than a goal, is the real 'Korea discount.' I hope they keep in mind that irresponsible and unrealistic claims such as nuclear armament by the ruling party will never achieve either consolidation of their support base or overcoming the livelihood and economic crisis."

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