"Catering to Kim Jong Un" vs. "No Hidden Agenda": Clash Over DMZ Landmine Blast

[Anchor]

Regarding the South Korean government's decision not to immediately launch an on-site investigation following a landmine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), the People Power Party went on the offensive, claiming the administration is walking on eggshells around Kim Jong Un. Cheong Wa Dae drew the line, stating that the delay is to ensure safety and that there is absolutely no hidden agenda or cover-up.

Reporter Park Chan-beom has the details.

[Reporter]

An on-site investigation has yet to be conducted into the landmine explosion that occurred in the Demilitarized Zone on the western front on September 21.

The People Power Party asserted that "delaying the on-site investigation even though North Korea's involvement is practically certain is a deliberate cover-up," sharply questioning, "Are you giving North Korea time to destroy evidence, or are you walking on eggshells around Kim Jong Un?"

[Jang Dong-hyeok / People Power Party Leader (Maeil Shinmun YouTube 'Lee Dong-jae's News Cabinet'): I think national security has practically been abandoned. Even after soldiers suffered an accident from a landmine explosion, President Lee Jae-myung went to the United States and is ultimately just walking on eggshells around Kim Jong Un.]

In response, a senior Cheong Wa Dae official dismissed the claims, stating that the site of the incident is "a high-risk area, so we are approaching it cautiously," and emphasized, "There is absolutely no hidden agenda or cover-up." The official added that all possibilities should be kept open to examine whether North Korea planted the mine or what happened if it did not.

The Democratic Party also criticized the People Power Party, urging it not to use the lives of service members as a tool for political strife.

[Shin Hyun-young / Democratic Party Spokesperson: Without thorough risk assessments and safety measures in place, the safety of service members cannot be guaranteed (during the on-site investigation).]

A political debate also broke out over two North Korean prisoners of war captured by Ukrainian forces coming to South Korea.

After this fact was revealed yesterday (September 24) through Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's speech at the UN General Assembly, criticism emerged from the People Power Party claiming that the administration thoroughly concealed the matter out of deference to North Korea, stating, "At this rate, they would even comply if asked to repatriate the prisoners to North Korea."

President Lee Jae-myung then stepped in, posting on social media last night that it was "regrettable that the Ukrainian side disclosed this, breaching the non-disclosure agreement," and that "considering the various problems that could arise from making it public, keeping it confidential was appropriate in every respect." Following this, a senior Cheong Wa Dae official also explained today that the Ukrainian side had notified them before the announcement, and that humanitarian reasons were the sole consideration for initially deciding not to disclose the matter, with no other factors involved.

Video by Lee Seung-hwan | Video Editing by Jeong Seong-hun | Graphics by Cho Su-in
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.