Opposition Launches All-Out Offensive over Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) Landmine Blast: "Suspend Aid to North Korea and Resume Loudspeaker Broadcasts"

[Financial News] On the 1st, the People Power Party directly targeted President Lee Jae Myung, using the North Korean landmine explosion in the DMZ to urge the government to change its policy toward North Korea. The party stepped up its offensive by demanding an apology from North Korea and the removal of the mines, as well as an end to aid to North Korea and the reinstallation of loudspeakers broadcasting toward the North.
Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, argued at a supreme council meeting held at the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea that day, "If we fail to hold North Korea firmly accountable for its landmine provocation, we will once again be confessing to illegal remittances to North Korea and admitting that we are guardians of Kim Jong Un's mood."
Jang said, "This landmine tragedy is a joint product of the Moon Jae-in administration's dismantling of guard posts and the Lee Jae Myung administration's passive inaction." He added, "We strongly demand an immediate apology from the North Korean authorities and measures to restore the status quo, including the removal of mines from the DMZ."
Jang also criticized the ruling party's claim that North Korea laid the mines for defensive purposes. "If crossing the border and planting weapons designed to kill is defensive, then what invasion, provocation, or attack by North Korea would not be defensive?" he asked. He added, "It is enough to make one wonder whether they are South Korea's ruling party or the Yeouido branch of the Workers' Party of Korea."
People Power Party floor leader Chung Jeom-sik also said, "Providing aid while North Korea is carrying out provocations and invasions is an act of aiding the enemy." He called for an end to aid to North Korea, the reinstallation of loudspeakers broadcasting toward the North, and the resumption of broadcasts to North Korea. Regarding the failure to adopt a resolution condemning North Korea at the National Defense Committee of the National Assembly on the 29th of last month, he argued, "I suspect the Democratic Party may be trying to have it both ways—using a hollow resolution to save face with the public while watching North Korea's reaction."
Chung also took issue with the military authorities' description of North Korea's mine-laying as the "fortification of the border line." He stressed, "The term 'border line' is language that presupposes North Korea's two-state theory. It should simply be called North Korea's landmine provocation in the DMZ, as it is."
The People Power Party continued its offensive over the proposed abolition of the prosecution's supplementary investigative authority. Chung cited the case of Jang Yoon-gi, who was sentenced to life in prison at his first trial for murdering a high school girl after attempting to abduct her for sexual purposes, and pointed out, "Without supplementary investigation by the prosecution, the case might have been treated as simple murder." He added, "The People Power Party will prepare a comprehensive plan to normalize the criminal justice system, including restoring the prosecution's supplementary investigative authority, to prevent the concealment and burying of the truth about crimes."

[email protected] Kim Kyung-min Reporter