Ruling PPP Slams Government, Says 'Stop Blaming Others' Over North Korean Mine Blast

The People Power Party strongly criticized President Lee Jae-myung and the government over the North Korean landmine explosion. On the 29th, the same day the Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that "it is highly likely a North Korean military landmine exploded," the PPP pointed out that President Lee was shirking responsibility for the incident and focusing solely on attacking the opposition.

Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk attacked the government in a Facebook post on the 29th while visiting the Marine Corps' 6th Brigade on Baengnyeong Island in Ongjin County, Incheon, where he received a briefing on the unit's status. The post concerned the possibility of North Korea's "intentional mine-laying," mentioned by Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul at the National Assembly's Defense Committee. Jang claimed that the North Korean military's incursion across the MDL (Military Demarcation Line) was confirmed as far back as September of last year, and that the military had neglected it for over a year since then.

Interparty conflict intensified following the Defense Committee remarks. When Jin Sung-joon, the Democratic Party's chairman of the Defense Committee, said it was "difficult to conclude that the mines were planted with intent to injure our troops," the PPP immediately demanded his resignation. Park Chung-kwon, the PPP's chief spokesperson, called on Chairman Jin to step down at once in a statement. Rep. Joo Jin-woo criticized Jin's remarks as "secondary victimization" on his Facebook page.