Opposition Criticizes 'Unauthorized Drinking at Missile Command'... "Discipline Lax from the Top"

Army Soldiers Caught Illegally Drinking by Smuggling Liquor in Yangju
"Discipline Collapse Less Than a Month After Defense Minister's Inspection"
"Yoon Should Reflect First on His Actions During North Korean Provocations"

The Democratic Party of Korea held President Yoon Seok-yeol and Minister of National Defense Shin Won-sik accountable for the incident in which soldiers of the Army Missile Strategy Command left their posts and engaged in unauthorized drinking. This criticism is interpreted as pointing out that the military's discipline lapse, revealed amid ongoing North Korean military provocations, is not unrelated to the government's attitude focused on vetoing the 'Double Special Investigation Act.'

On the afternoon of the 8th, Kwon Chil-seung, the Democratic Party's chief spokesperson, held a press conference at the National Assembly communication office and stated, "It has been confirmed that five soldiers belonging to the Missile Strategy Command engaged in unauthorized drinking within the unit on the 3rd, the day after North Korea announced its provocation," adding, "Minister of National Defense Shin Won-sik visited the unit directly and ordered 'ironclad vigilance,' but serious 'discipline lapses' occurred in less than a month."

In September last year, during the 75th anniversary of the founding of the armed forces and Armed Forces Day celebration, 3-axis system equipment marched in a parade on Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul. The lineup included the long-range surface-to-air guided weapon L-SAM, high-power Hyunmoo missiles, long-range air-to-ground Taurus missiles, and medium-range surface-to-air Cheongung missiles. /Photo by Joint Press Corps

Earlier, Asia Economy exclusively reported that soldiers of the Missile Strategy Command secretly brought in whiskey from the military mart (PX) and were caught drinking unauthorized alcohol inside the unit in the early hours of the 3rd. It was also revealed that the night watchman on duty was involved in the unauthorized drinking, and this timing was just the day after North Korea announced its provocation. North Korea conducted artillery fire near the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the West Sea over three days from the 5th to the 7th of this month. The Missile Strategy Command, where the incident occurred, is a core unit equipped with the Korean-style 3-axis system's massive retaliation (KMPR) capability, making it one of the most critical units.

Spokesperson Kwon criticized, "It is outrageous that the night watchman on duty was among those who drank unauthorized alcohol," and questioned, "Has the ironclad national defense posture remained only in the words of the President and the Minister of National Defense?" He continued, "Where does the soldiers' 'discipline lapse' originate from?" and pointed out, "The Minister of National Defense says that the Dokdo territorial dispute is a fact; can soldiers devote themselves to defending the homeland under such circumstances?"

Kwon Chil-seung, Senior Spokesperson of the Democratic Party of Korea Photo by Yonhap News

He further stated, "Moreover, on the 5th, when the North Korean military fired over 200 rounds around Baengnyeongdo and Yeonpyeongdo from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., President Yoon Seok-yeol and the Cabinet members were preoccupied with 'protecting Mrs. Kim Geon-hee,'" linking this incident with the President's veto exercise and sharply criticizing it. He added, "The President, who should protect the nation with ironclad resolve, ignored the people's orders for himself and his wife."

Spokesperson Kwon concluded, "There is an old saying that the upper water must be clear for the lower water to be clear," and said, "Before holding the soldiers who engaged in unauthorized drinking accountable, I hope the President and Cabinet members reflect on what they were doing at the moment when North Korean shells were raining down and sincerely repent." He added, "The reflection of President Yoon Seok-yeol and the Cabinet members will be the beginning of correcting the military's discipline lapse."

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