Ruling and Opposition Parties Clash Over 'Cheong Wa Dae Response' to North Korea's Landmine Provocation at Steering Committee Audit

Opposition: "Do you think the response is sufficient?"
Ruling party: "Hypersonic missiles and other measures are enough."

The ruling and opposition parties clashed on Oct. 29 over the Blue House’s response to North Korea’s landmine provocation during a parliamentary audit of the Blue House by the National Assembly Steering Committee.

Rep. Kim Kiwoong of the People Power Party told Wi Sung-lac, chief of the National Security Office, “The action we took toward North Korea can be summed up in one sentence: We told them to stop making pointless accusations and join our efforts for peace and coexistence. That is very, very restrained.”

National Security Office Chief Wi Sung-lac delivers a report during a parliamentary audit of the Blue House at the National Assembly on the 29th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo.

He continued, “President Lee Jaemyung promised that we would clearly state our position when North Korea was in the wrong, say what needed to be said to North Korea, and act with confidence without being accused of humiliating ourselves,” and asked, “Do you think what we are doing now is consistent with that promise?”

Wi replied, “The relevant ministries have stated their positions in their statements, and the presidential office has also stated its position.”

Rep. Kim asked him to “state the position once again,” adding, “North Korea is acting as if it were the victim. Please tell us your position on that.” Wi said, “We have said that it was in the wrong, sent a document to the United Nations (UN), and raised the matter with the Security Council. We have raised it through all those channels.”

When Rep. Kim asked, “Do you think that is enough?” Wi replied, “As the president has said, we are saying that North Korea is in the wrong when it is.”

The Democratic Party of Korea backed Wi, listing the Blue House’s actions in response to North Korea’s landmine provocation. Rep. Kim Seonghoe of the party said, “We sent a letter of protest to the UN Security Council, saying that North Korea was in the wrong over the landmines,” adding, “We also conducted a joint investigation with the United Nations Command and shared the finding that it was a violation of the Armistice Agreement.”

He continued, “We demonstrated a hypersonic missile launch. Why do you think we did that?” He added, “I believe our country has carried out sufficient shows of force, including making North Korea nervous by launching a fully operational hypersonic missile. Do you agree?” Wi replied, “We are doing everything we need to do.”

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