Democratic Party launches security council, questions 80-year-old mindset of trusting the ROK-U.S. alliance by default

[Financial News] The Democratic Party of Korea launched the Foreign Affairs, Security and Unification Advisory Council on the 28th to review policies on foreign affairs, security and unification and advise the government on policy direction. Rep. Park Jeong, who chairs the council, stressed the need to reconsider perceptions of the existing ROK-U.S. alliance and policies toward North Korea.
At the launch ceremony that day, Rep. Park said, “Dialogue on the Korean Peninsula has broken down, and tensions are escalating into such extreme confrontation that it would be no surprise if war broke out at any time,” adding, “We have entered an era in which we cannot talk about the future of the Republic of Korea without addressing diplomacy and security and issues concerning the Korean Peninsula.”
He continued, “I will also fight the misguided ideology that brands a more generous North Korea policy as pro-North Korean,” and stressed, “I will question the 80-year-old mindset of simply trusting the ROK-U.S. alliance by default.”
Democratic Party of Korea leader Kim Min-seok said he would support the Lee Jae-myung administration’s pragmatic diplomacy centered on the national interest. “The core of pragmatic diplomacy centered on the national interest is to strengthen the ROK-U.S. alliance, build a solid foundation for diplomacy and security on that basis, and broaden cooperation with neighboring countries such as China and Japan,” Kim explained.
Kim said, “Building appropriate and good relations with stakeholders and countries that have various ties with us requires considerable wisdom,” adding, “Protecting and safeguarding the public’s safety and livelihoods, as well as the development of businesses and industries, is also central to our diplomacy.”
He added, “The advisory council being launched today is the institution that plays the most important role in this regard,” and said, “I will work with you to ensure your recommendations are fully reflected in the party’s and government’s foreign affairs and security policies.”
The Democratic Party of Korea held the advisory council’s first meeting that day and discussed policy directions in foreign affairs, security and unification.

[email protected] Kim Kyung-min Reporter