"Chung Dong-young pushes ahead with overseas trip amid North Korean landmine attack" ... People Power Party condemns "immature behavior"

[Financial News] Controversy is intensifying over Minister Chung Dong-young's departure for an extended overseas trip amid a suspected North Korean landmine explosion in the western sector of the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The People Power Party criticized Chung for leaving the country despite criticism of the lengthy, junket-style trip ahead of questioning by the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee of the National Assembly.
On the 30th, the People Power Party said, "Chung Dong-young pushed ahead with a European tour even as the landmine terror incident unfolded and a National Assembly inquiry into pending issues was looming," condemning it as "immature behavior that disregards both time and place."
The party said Chung had left the country while the entire nation was in turmoil over North Korea's deliberate landmine attack.
The People Power Party stated, "All Cabinet members must, on behalf of the people, condemn North Korea's outrageous conduct and seek strong accountability. That is the duty they must fulfill as the people's representatives. Yet Minister Chung embarked on a weeklong tour of three European countries beginning on the 28th, while North Korea was suspected of carrying out the landmine attack."
The People Power Party said it believed Minister Chung had gone abroad to acquire know-how for getting along better with North Korea, which had carried out the attack.
It said it wanted to ask whether he was still thinking only of "no-questions-asked giveaway diplomacy" toward North Korea even amid the crisis.
The party also pointed out that Minister Chung had referred to North Korea as the "Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)" and recognized its regime. It said Chung had even remarked, "The chilling situation in which North Korea is designated as the principal enemy must be put to an end," prompting public criticism that he was "a spokesman for North Korea."
The People Power Party said, "It is only right for Minister Chung to clearly answer the public whether he can still say the same things even in the face of North Korea's terror attack."
The party also lambasted Chung for pushing ahead with his departure despite criticism that the European tour was a junket, just before the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee of the National Assembly was scheduled to question the government about the landmine incident.
The People Power Party pointed out that North Korea had continued developing nuclear weapons and missiles in violation of international law, designated South Korea as its "unchanging principal enemy," and even came near our DMZ to carry out a landmine attack.
The People Power Party said, "The current administration's first priority should not be submission to North Korea. It must firmly hold accountable those responsible for actions that threaten the safety of our people and service members."
It also criticized Chung, saying, "Minister Chung should reflect on whether the European tour he pushed through amid the landmine terror incident was truly the right choice. Avoiding his post does not mean he can avoid his responsibilities as minister."
[email protected] Kim Kyung-soo Reporter