Jang Donghyuk: "President Lee Must Demand Apology from North Korea... Is There a Greater Weakness Than the North Korea Remittance?"

Focused Attacks on DMZ Landmine Incident and Appointment of Serious Crime Investigation Agency Chief

Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, on October 5th, called on President Lee Jaemyung to make an immediate apology to North Korea regarding the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) landmine explosion incident, and pressed for strong corresponding measures.

Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, held a press conference on the 5th at the National Assembly regarding current issues such as the DMZ landmine explosion incident, diplomatic friction with Ukraine, and controversies over the appointment of Kim Jiyong to the Serious Crime Investigation Agency. Photo by Yonhap News

At a press briefing held at the National Assembly that day, Jang stated, “President Lee remains silent even though a North Korean-planted landmine blew off a soldier’s foot, brushing it off as an ‘unforeseen accident.’ He is busy prostrating himself and begging for peace while North Korea fires missiles and mocks him as a ‘self-made clown.’ If he has no intention of protecting the people, he should step down from his position immediately.”

He added, “When it comes to Ukraine, which repatriated North Korean prisoners of war, President Lee displays ‘anger management issues’ over having been made a liar. Yet towards North Korea, he is ‘exceptionally good at managing his anger.’ With the commander-in-chief acting this way, how can the military take appropriate countermeasures? Just what compromising information does North Korea have over him?”

Jang continued, “I don’t believe President Lee is acting subservient to North Korea because of the illegal remittances to the North. Those involved have already been convicted in court, and prosecution has charged President Lee with knowledge of the case—if tried, he will surely be found guilty,” he said, adding, “This remittance case will eventually be dropped from prosecution, so it is not the reason he is so subservient to Kim Jong Un. I think there must be something even more serious that is preventing him from saying anything against the North. If his approach to North Korea continues as it is now, public distrust will only deepen.”

Regarding the ongoing internal dispute within the ruling bloc over Kim Jiyong’s nomination as director of the Serious Crime Investigation Agency, Jang remarked, “The hardliners in the ruling party attack Kim Jiyong for being pro-Yoon (Yoon Suk Yeol), while President Lee rebuts by calling him anti-Yoon. They pushed for dismantling the prosecution under the pretext of rooting out ‘political prosecutors,’ yet now they want to create a ‘political serious crime agency’ that fits their agenda.” He continued, “The dismantling of the prosecution will clearly turn Korea into a public security nightmare with endless investigation loops, delayed court trials, and cases being buried, and the tears of wronged citizens will flow like rivers. The public will surely hold them accountable.”

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