"No Political Strife" vs. "Subservience to North Korea"... Committee Questioning Tomorrow

[Anchor]

Democratic Party lawmakers visited the Army's 25th Division, where a landmine explosion occurred. They emphasized that a thorough investigation must be conducted, stressing that the incident should not become "an object of political strife." People Power Party lawmakers did not join the visit, arguing it would only disrupt the military unit. Criticizing the ruling bloc for refusing to refer to it as a "North Korean landmine," they sharpened their rhetoric, calling it "subservience to North Korea."

Reporter Park Chan-beom reports.

[Reporter]

Lawmakers on the National Assembly's National Defense Committee, excluding those from the People Power Party, visited the Army's 25th Division, the site of the landmine explosion.

Military authorities stated that the results of the forensic analysis on evidence submitted to the National Forensic Service will be released soon.

[Kim Byung-joo / Democratic Party Lawmaker: You submitted the key evidence—the fragments and then the equipment—(to the National Forensic Service), didn't you?]

[Military Official: We initially sent 10 collected items, including clothing and equipment, (to the National Forensic Service) on September 22.]

The Democratic Party maintains that this accident must not be turned into an object of political strife.

[Kim Min-seok / Democratic Party Leader: The investigation into the explosion must proceed transparently and thoroughly without political strife or partisan maneuvering.]

People Power Party lawmakers boycotted the visit, stating that visiting the 25th Division would only disrupt the unit,

[Lim Jong-deuk / People Power Party Lawmaker: What the site needs is recovering from the incident, maintaining defense readiness, and the stability of the troops.]

and lashed out, accusing the ruling bloc of walking on eggshells around North Korea and displaying "subservience to North Korea."

[Jang Dong-hyeok / People Power Party Leader: If the president ordered a cover-up of the accident, it is an act of aiding the enemy and treason aiding foreign aggression that warrants an immediate criminal investigation, going beyond impeachment.]

Visiting the National Assembly, Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul denied allegations that on-site investigations were delayed out of concern over North Korea, stating that stern action will be taken if it is revealed to be an act committed by the North Korean military.

[Kang Shin-chul / Defense Minister: A corresponding response and action are necessary, and that is what we will carry out.]

Amid this situation, the ruling and opposition parties agreed to hold a plenary meeting of the National Defense Committee tomorrow afternoon, September 29, to conduct an inquiry into current issues regarding the landmine explosion.

(Video by Lee Seung-hwan and Shin Dong-hwan | Video Editing by Park Seon-soo)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.