Na Kyung-won Points to Three Striking Aspects of the President’s March 1 Speech
“One cannot help but ask whether we are truly on the same side as our liberal democratic allies.”
[Choice Times=Byung-Tae Kim, Staff Reporter]
“The drone infiltration incident that occurred last year, entirely unrelated to the intentions of this government, was a grave criminal act that threatened peace on the Korean Peninsula and should never have happened.”
President Lee Jae-myung made this remark in a message directed at North Korea during his March 1 Independence Movement Day address.
President Lee stated, “On this Korean Peninsula where the two Koreas live together, actions that provoke tension and conflict cannot be justified under any circumstances,” adding, “We will thoroughly uncover the truth and establish institutional safeguards to ensure that such incidents never happen again.”
The president said, “As I have stated repeatedly, our government respects the system of the North and will engage in no hostile acts whatsoever, nor will it pursue any form of absorption-based unification.”
He continued, “Just as we have proactively taken various measures not merely in words but through actions to reduce military tensions between the South and the North and restore mutual trust, we will consistently and continuously pursue what is necessary to achieve peace on the Korean Peninsula and rebuild inter-Korean trust.”
He also said, “As a ‘pacemaker,’ we will communicate not only with the United States but also with neighboring countries so that dialogue between North Korea and the United States can resume as soon as possible.”
He added, “We will make every effort to transform the armistice system into a peace regime through substantive tension reduction between the two Koreas and cooperation with related countries,” and expressed hope that “as the North is establishing and implementing a new five-year plan, it will come to the dialogue table without delay, leave behind the dark past, and move forward together toward a new future.”
In response, People Power Party lawmaker Na Kyung-won criticized the speech, saying she was “deeply concerned about President Lee Jae-myung’s March 1 commemorative address.”
Na stated, “Three points stand out in the president’s address: first, the claim that the international order based on norms is collapsing under the logic of power; second, respect for the North Korean system; and third, an apology regarding the drone incident involving North Korea,” adding, “The president’s speech criticizes the United States in relation to the operation targeting Khamenei and takes a stance that clearly differs from other allies in the free world.”
She said, “Australia, Canada, and Japan have all expressed strong support for the United States, or at the very least have clearly criticized Iran’s nuclear threat,” whereas “our authorities, by contrast, remained at the level of generalities, merely referring to ‘de-escalation of regional tensions’ in a statement issued in the name of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
She added, “One cannot help but ask whether we are truly on the same side as our liberal democratic allies.”
Na argued, “By repeatedly affirming respect for the North Korean system and defining the drone incident as ‘an act unrelated to this government’s intentions,’ the president has effectively issued an apology to North Korea.”
She continued, “At a time when friction continues over recent West Sea air force drills and the ROK–U.S. combined military exercises, the crisis facing the ROK–U.S. alliance is steadily intensifying,” adding, “Meanwhile, figures and groups aligned with the ruling camp—including Prime Minister Kim Min-seok’s older brother, the People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, and the Rebuilding Korea Party—have issued successive statements of opposition and even held rallies condemning the United States.”
She went on to say, “Why is the area surrounding the ruling forces reacting so fiercely? Could it be because the next dictator with nuclear weapons is Kim Jong-un?” and added, “President Lee Jae-myung must state a clear position on nuclear-armed Iran and must also clarify, based on firm principles, his stance on North Korea’s nuclear weapons.”
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