The presidential office and the Democratic Party of Korea clashed over the foreign and security policies of the Moon Jae-in and Yoon Suk-yeol administrations during the National Assembly work report on Thursday. National Security Chief Cho Tae-yong called the Moon administration’s North Korea policy a “fake peace based on goodwill,” while the Democratic Party of Korea strongly protested that it was a “lie that disparages the past.”
Cho Tae-yong “Denies ‘Wiretapping of US Presidential Office'”
In his work report to the National Assembly Steering Committee on the same day, Cho said, “A comprehensive overhaul of South Korea’s security has been achieved,” adding, “We will build a solid security that allows future generations to nurture their dreams with peace of mind, not a fake peace that relies on the goodwill of the other side, but a peace of overwhelming power.” He emphasized the foreign and security achievements of the Yoon administration compared to those of the Moon administration.
The Democratic Party immediately reacted. Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Byung-joo said in a floor speech that “there are lies (in Cho’s work report),” and took issue with phrases like “fake peace. “I have been wearing a military uniform for 39 years, working hard and preparing for North Korean provocations,” said Kim, a former deputy commander of the U.S.-South Korean Joint Forces Command. “Why are you disparaging the past and disparaging the military to make (Yun) look good?” he asked.
“I think it’s a fake peace that relies on good intentions,” Cho said, adding, “I don’t think it’s a duty to the people to stand idly by as the head of the National Security Council because he lied.” He did not relent in his stance, saying, “(Former President Moon) traveled around the international community and assured North Korea that he had the will to denuclearize and asked for economic sanctions to be lifted.” The opposition lawmakers responded, “Are you trying to fight now?” Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Young-bae said, “The (presidential) office is reporting on its work in six months, which shows the disunity of the Yoon administration.” “Fighting with lawmakers is fighting with the people. It’s arrogant and disrespectful to have such an attitude.”
The tension between the two sides continued in the subsequent questions. In response to Representative Kim Byung-joo’s question, “Do you admit that the U.S. wiretapped the president’s office?” Cho replied, “I don’t admit it. “When I checked the facts, I found many parts that were not true,” he said, adding, “I can’t conclude whether it was wiretapping or not until I know more.”
President’s Office “Fake news about contaminated water at nuclear plant causes excessive worry”
South Korea’s presidential office was also divided on the contaminated water inspection team at Japan’s Fukushima nuclear plant. “The expression that cesium is more than twice as dangerous as tritium is fake news that is not in line with scientific facts,” said Lee Kwan-seop, chief of the National Planning Service. “Spreading fake news can cause excessive worry about people’s health and disrupt society.” Kim Dae-gi, presidential secretary, said, “The health of the people is incomparable. If there is contaminated water that is not scientifically stable, we must absolutely oppose it,” he said, emphasizing, “Let the scientists of the (inspection team) go and (verify) it.” However, Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Kim Young-bae criticized the mission, saying, “It’s just a tour group that can’t take samples and can’t disclose names,” and asked, “Why do we have a pro-Japanese government?”
In response to a question about the inclusion of the full text of the 5-18 spirit constitution, Yoon’s presidential campaign pledge, Kim said, “Constitutional reform should be done for the greater good of the country. It should be done after discussing the overall picture with a comprehensive vision,” he said, adding, “The moment (the Democratic Party스포츠토토) talks about a one-point constitutional reform, it becomes a black hole in national affairs, and people’s lives are also severe.”
Meanwhile, lawmakers from the ruling and opposition parties agreed on a proposal to disclose the parliamentary access records of game company WeMade ahead of the presidential office’s work report. WeMade is the issuer of WeMix Coin, which was invested by Representative Kim Nam-kook, who held a large amount of virtual assets (coins), and has been suspected of lobbying for legislation against Kim and others.