"Self-Reliant Defense" vs. "ROK-U.S. Alliance" ... Ruling and Opposition Parties Split Over Security Views in Memorial Day Messages

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\r\n[Financial News] On Memorial Day in South Korea, the ruling and opposition parties issued messages honoring the nation's fallen patriots and war dead. While both parties pledged veterans' and merit-based support policies for sacrifices made for the country, they showed a clear difference in their views on security.  
\r\nThe Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) emphasized unity and peace based on self-reliant defense, while the People Power Party stressed strong deterrence against North Korea built on the ROK-U.S. Alliance and criticized the Lee Jae Myung administration's security stance.
DPK spokesperson Jeon Su-mi said in a written briefing that day, "In the midst of rapidly changing international affairs, we feel the weight of the territory and sovereignty preserved by our forebears," adding, "We will build unwavering security on the foundation of strong self-reliant defense." She went on to say, "The nation our forebears dreamed of would not be one that quarrels over outdated ideology," and added, "We will end the politics of division and move toward a path of unity that protects the lives of the people. We will repay them with peace and prosperity."
By contrast, People Power Party chief spokesperson Park Sung-hoon criticized the Lee Jae Myung administration's North Korea policy, which has promoted 'peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula,' saying it would "only deepen distrust and security anxiety." Park said, "True peace can only be achieved through strong self-defense, a firm security posture, and an ironclad ROK-U.S. Alliance that prevents the enemy from even daring to provoke us." He added, "We will thoroughly monitor and firmly reject the Lee Jae Myung regime's lax security mindset and its irresponsible complacency on national security."
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jiwon.song@fnnews.com Song Ji-won Reporter