Kim Younghoon, Minister of Employment Nominee: "North Korea Is Not the Main Enemy"

Kim Younghoon, nominee for Minister of Employment and Labor, stated on July 16, "North Korea is not the main enemy."

Kim made this remark during the confirmation hearing at the National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee when Representative Cho Jiyeon of the People Power Party asked, "Who is the main enemy of the Republic of Korea?"

Kim further explained, "The main enemy is any force that threatens the Republic of Korea."

When Representative Cho pressed again, asking, "Then, is North Korea the main enemy of the Republic of Korea?" Kim responded, "Yesterday, the nominee for Minister of Unification said that North Korea is not the main enemy, and I agree with that statement."

Kim Younghoon, nominee for Minister of Employment and Labor, speaking
(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Ryu Youngseok = Kim Younghoon, nominee for Minister of Employment and Labor, is speaking at the confirmation hearing held on July 16, 2025, at the National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee in Yeouido, Seoul.
Photo by Ryu Youngseok
ondol@yna.co.kr (End)

The previous day, nominee for Minister of Unification Chung Dongyoung stated during his confirmation hearing, "North Korea is not the main enemy but a threat."

Additionally, when Representative Woo Jaejoon of the People Power Party asked why Kim attended the condolence visit for Kim Jongil, then Chairman of the National Defense Commission, in 2011, Kim answered, "At that time, various organizations promoting inter-Korean reconciliation and cooperation applied to pay their respects, and as the head of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, I applied because I was leading public-private exchanges as a representative of the labor sector."

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