"Walking on Eggshells Around Kim Jong Un?" ... "No Hidden Agenda or Cover-Up"

[Anchor]

Regarding the landmine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone, the ruling People Power Party launched an offensive claiming that postponing the on-site investigation amounts to "walking on eggshells around North Korea." In response, Cheong Wa Dae drew a line, stating that the delay is to ensure safety and that there is neither a hidden agenda nor a cover-up. A political clash also continues over the transfer to South Korea of two North Korean prisoners of war captured in Ukraine.

Reporter Park Chan-beom reports.

[Reporter]

On September 21, a landmine explosion occurred in the Demilitarized Zone along the western front.

An on-site investigation has yet to be carried out.

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

[Jang Dong-hyeok / Leader of the People Power Party (Maeil Shinmun YouTube "Lee Dong-jae's News Cabinet") : I believe security has essentially been abandoned. Even after an accident occurred due to 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 accident site "is an area with high risks, so we are approaching it cautiously," and emphasizing, "There is absolutely no possibility of a hidden agenda or a cover-up." The official added that authorities must keep all possibilities open to determine whether the mine was planted by North Korea or, if not, what actually happened.

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

[Shin Hyun-young / Democratic Party Spokesperson : Unless sufficient risk assessments and safety measures are established beforehand, the safety of service members cannot be guaranteed (during the on-site investigation).]

A political debate also erupted over the transfer to South Korea of two North Korean prisoners of war captured by Ukrainian forces.

After this came to light on September 24 through Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's speech at the UN General Assembly, the People Power Party criticized the administration, claiming it thoroughly hid the matter out of deference to North Korea, saying, "They would probably even comply if asked to repatriate the prisoners to North Korea."

In response, President Lee Jae-myung posted on social media that night, expressing regret that the Ukrainian side disclosed the information in breach of a non-disclosure agreement and stating, "Considering the various problems that could arise from making it public, keeping it confidential was reasonable in every aspect." Yesterday (September 25), a senior Cheong Wa Dae official also explained that the Ukrainian side had informed Seoul ahead of the announcement, and that humanitarian reasons were the sole consideration behind the initial decision to keep the matter non-disclosed.

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