[2026 National Audit] Jeong Dongyoung: "Peaceful Coexistence and Sanctions Cannot Coexist"... Debate over Land Mines and North Korean Defectors at Audit

Minister of Unification Jeong Dong-young clashed with opposition lawmakers over unilateral sanctions against North Korea during a parliamentary audit on October 7. Jeong stressed that “a policy of peaceful coexistence and sanctions cannot coexist” in response to proposals for unilateral cyber sanctions over a North Korean landmine explosion. Lawmakers also traded barbs over the use of “people from North Korea” to refer to North Korean defectors and allegations that defectors had been pressured to return to the North, with voices raised during the exchange.

Jeong Dongyoung, Minister of Unification, is responding to lawmakers' questions at the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee's national audit held on the 7th at the Inter-Korean Summit Headquarters in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

At the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee audit held that day at the Inter-Korean Summit Headquarters in Jongno-gu, Seoul, People Power Party lawmaker Park Chung-kwon asked Jeong whether he had opposed a proposal for unilateral cyber sanctions against North Korea that Foreign Minister Cho Hyun had mentioned at a National Security Council (NSC) meeting. Jeong responded, “What does cyber sanctions have to do with responding to a landmine explosion?”

He continued, “The Ministry of Unification has its own reason for existing, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has its own reason for existing. It is only natural for them to have different opinions.” Citing Cho’s response the previous day, Park claimed, “Foreign Minister Cho Hyun lied. He committed perjury,” and called for him to be reported. At the Foreign Affairs Committee’s audit the previous day, Cho had denied a clash with Jeong during an NSC meeting, saying, “There was no clash. There can certainly be differences of opinion.”

Reports emerged that the Ministry of Unification had opposed a unilateral cyber sanctions proposal raised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs while the NSC discussed a response to a landmine explosion in the western sector of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on October 1. Questions about disagreements between the two ministries continued that day, following the Foreign Affairs Committee’s audit the previous day.

Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon also asked whether he and Cho had exchanged heated words at the NSC meeting. Jeong replied, “Exactly as Minister Cho said yesterday.” When Han pressed him again on whether there had been a disagreement over unilateral sanctions, Jeong dismissed the question, saying, “It would not be appropriate to disclose the details of the NSC meeting.”

In response to a question from People Power Party lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo, Jeong said, “The Ministry of Unification’s assessment is that this is not an appropriate response to a landmine explosion.” Asked whether the Foreign Ministry’s policy could not be approved if the Ministry of Unification opposed it, he replied, “That is not the case. The matter is discussed thoroughly and coordinated.”

Jeong said, “The Ministry of Unification’s basic position is that sanctions are not the way to go,” adding, “A policy of peaceful coexistence and sanctions cannot coexist.” In response to remarks that North Korean cyberattacks are international crimes, he said, “I understand that our government is working with the international community to curb cybercrime, including hacking.”

Lawmakers also clashed over calling North Korean defectors “people from North Korea.” Park described the term as “people from North Korea, a term we’ve never heard or seen before,” and noted that the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had also expressed caution about or opposition to changing the designation. He then called the change “an insult to all North Korean defectors” and said he would refer to Jeong as a “North Korean spokesperson” and “Minister Bukdongiyeo.”

People Power Party floor leader Kim Dae-sik said defectors should continue to be called North Korean defectors until a change in terminology was finalized, and called for consistent use of the term. In response, Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Lee Ki-heon rebuked him, saying, “As a member of the National Assembly, you should not use language that demeans and disparages government ministries.” Democratic Party floor leader Hong Ki-won also said that while the term could be criticized, its use could not be forced.

Independent lawmaker Donghun Han is questioning Minister of Unification Dongyoung Jung during the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee audit held on the 7th at the Inter-Korean Summit Headquarters in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

At one point, the questioning was interrupted after Park claimed he had received a tip that the Ministry of Unification and Lawyers for a Democratic Society had pressured North Korean defectors to return to North Korea. When Jeong and ruling-party lawmakers laughed, Park raised his voice, saying, “Don’t laugh,” and “Is this something to laugh about? I’m talking about a serious matter.” Hong responded, “The claim was so far from what we consider common sense that the reaction came naturally,” adding, “It seems you interpreted it differently and became agitated. I think there has been a misunderstanding.” Democratic Party lawmaker Jeong Cheong-rae also retorted, “It is difficult to control basic physiological responses,” and “There is no authority to stop people from laughing.”

After questioning resumed, Park asked whether North Korean prisoners of war who had arrived in South Korea had also been pressured to express a desire to return to the North. Jeong replied, “That could never happen,” adding, “It must not happen in the future either.”

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