People Power Party Slams Military's Mine Removal Cooperation Plan as an 'Army of Plants'

The People Power Party (PPP) criticized the military's plan for responding to the mine removal operation — announced after military authorities concluded on October 5 that the September explosion of a landmine in the western front Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) was caused by a North Korean mine — calling the military an "army of plants." Three South Korean soldiers were injured in the explosion that occurred south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) in the western front DMZ in September, and the military confirmed that North Korea was behind the provocation. However, its first response measure was merely to urge North Korea to remove the mines, with a pledge that if the North failed to comply, the South Korean military would carry out the removal operation itself.

In a statement on the day, Park Sung-hoon, the PPP's chief spokesman, said, "Even though the perpetrator of a serious military provocation has been identified, the military authorities' response goes beyond dismay to the level of declaring the abandonment of our security sovereignty." He pointed out, "It is as if someone buried explosives in a neighbor's yard, injured someone, and then asked the culprit to come back and clean it up — and if he refuses, the victim offers to risk his own life to clear it instead." He went on to urge the government to immediately take substantive and strong corresponding measures, saying, "Because of President Lee Jae-myung's humiliating diplomacy toward North Korea, the military has become an army of plants, unable to take even corresponding military action while our soldiers bleed."

PPP spokeswoman Ham In-kyung criticized, "This is a clear military provocation and a violation of the armistice agreement. Seeing such a response, how little must North Korea think of South Korea and our military?" She argued it would only send the wrong signal that there is no price to pay for provocation.

Rep. Kwon Young-se, a former unification minister, noted on Facebook that in a commemorative speech marking the October 4 Declaration, President Lee Jae-myung, quoting former President Roh Moo-hyun, had said that 'reciprocity can only bring a repetition of crises and confrontation.' Kwon criticized, "Giving up reciprocity with a party that does not even abide by the armistice agreement is appeasement or submission, not peace."

Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon pointed out on Facebook that the North Korean mine attack occurred on September 21, but the government, wary of North Korea's reaction, delayed its investigation throughout the Chuseok holiday and only officially acknowledged the attack on October 5, after the month had changed — raising suspicions of deliberate delay once again. He said, "Now is the time to take strong corresponding measures."

The ruling and opposition parties have been locked in a war of words over the issue since immediately after the incident. The fact that last month's general meeting of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee was held solely by the PPP was an extension of this same conflict. The DMZ explosion was raised as a matter of inquiry at the meeting.