Kim Min-seok: "Party Will Actively Support Strengthening President Lee Jae-myung's Pacemaker Role"

Democratic Party of Korea leader Kim Min-seok stated regarding the government's North Korea policy, "The party will actively support strengthening the pacemaker role declared by President Lee Jae-myung."

Speaking at an on-site Supreme Council meeting held at the Gangneung City Hall in Gangwon Province today (the 21st), Kim said, "Amid complex changes in the stances of the United States, China, and North Korea, the situation on the Korean Peninsula is shifting in various ways."

Kim emphasized, "When I served as prime minister, I visited the United States and China and met with (U.S. President) Trump, (U.S. Vice President) Vance, and (Chinese) Premier Li Qiang. Party diplomacy, especially in the case of the United States, differs from governmental diplomacy as it allows for dialogue with the (U.S.) opposition party."

He added, "With the (U.S.) midterm elections scheduled for November, I will immediately pursue party diplomacy visits to the United States, China, and Japan within this year, as promised during the national convention period."

Kim also announced that a party task force (TF) will be established to support the successful hosting of the 2026 Gangneung Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) World Congress, which is scheduled for October and stands as Gangneung's largest pending issue.

Meanwhile, writing on X (formerly Twitter) earlier in the day, Kim addressed the request by some 3,000 registered members of the People Power Party for disciplinary action against lawmaker Lee Jin-sook, who sparked controversy by holding a forum on the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement at the National Assembly alongside a right-wing group, stating, "I would like to express my respect and gratitude to the members of the People Power Party."

Kim added, "Starting with the disciplinary action against Lee Jin-sook and moving on to the inclusion of the May 18 movement in the preamble of the Constitution, I hope the People Power Party will truly approach the citizens. The Democratic Party will definitely achieve the expulsion, or at least the suspension of activities, of lawmaker Lee."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.