PPP: Delayed Mine Investigation Shows Only Coddling of Kim Jong-un
The People Power Party (PPP) on Thursday denounced President Lee Jae-myung and newly appointed Defense Minister Kang Sin-cheol, saying the on-site investigation into an explosion believed to have been caused by a landmine in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) has been postponed until after the Chuseok holiday on safety grounds.
P Appearing on New Daily TV and Maeil Business's YouTube channels, PPP leader Jang Dong-hyuk criticized, "Whether the mine was planted by North Korea or washed down from the North during flooding, shouldn't the president take a position?" adding that the administration is "too busy watching Kim Jong-un's every move." In a Facebook post, Jang said, "There is a very high possibility that the mine was recently planted by North Korean troops. If so, it is a clear act of aggression requiring the highest level of corresponding response." He added, "An immediate and thorough investigation is needed. If the administration tries to blind the public with whitewashing, it will only add to grounds for impeachment."
Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun held a press conference at the National Assembly to question the circumstances of the incident. He argued, "The possibility of North Korean mine planting was already known, and the operation was carried out despite clearly foreseeable danger." He then pressed the military for postponing the on-site investigation: "While thorough measures for the safety of the investigation team are necessary, are the lives and safety of our soldiers an unavoidable sacrifice?" He urged authorities to "transparently disclose to the public the risk assessment conducted during the DMZ operation, the approval authority, and the reporting chain."
Rep. Na Kyung-won wrote, "This administration is openly admitting that it is emasculating the military, turning it into an honor guard that rolls out a red carpet instead of firing a shot when the North comes pushing down." Han Ki-ho, a former military general, criticized, "The Defense Ministry, dragging its feet with one excuse after another, deserves the public's contempt. The defense minister is truly spineless."
Independent Rep. Han Dong-hoon, who staged a one-person protest in front of the Defense Ministry the previous day calling for the immediate launch of the on-site investigation into the DMZ mine blast, also joined in. He quipped, "If it was too dangerous to enter until now, does it suddenly become safe once the red-letter Chuseok holidays are over?"
