DPK: 'Traitorous Behavior' vs. PPP: 'Once Injured, Just Your Son'

The clash between the ruling and opposition parties over a suspected landmine explosion that recently occurred in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) has continued throughout the Chuseok holiday.

The People Power Party (PPP) pressed on with its political offensive, claiming that the Lee Jae-myung administration is deliberately delaying the investigation out of concern over North Korea's reaction.

PPP Floor Leader Jeong Jeom-sik criticized on Facebook today (September 26), "It was President Lee Jae-myung who said that phrases like 'A son of the nation when drafted, your son when injured, and who are you when dead?' should never be heard again," adding, "Yet this country's Ministry of National Defense and military are treating the soldiers whose ankles were severed in the DMZ landmine incident as 'just your son.'"

Floor Leader Jeong said, "We already remember a person who went out for a round of golf in July, treating the Navy sailor who died after going missing in the East Sea as 'who are you?' The discrepancy between President Lee's words and actions is nothing new," urging, "Swiftly and clearly announce who is responsible for the landmine explosion based on the 5Ws and 1H."

Senior Spokesperson Park Sung-hoon said in a commentary, "Even at this very moment, the Lee Jae-myung administration is postponing even the on-site investigation, offering only deceitful excuses like 'we are approaching cautiously because it is dangerous,'" calling it "a delayed response waiting for time to pass so evidence is lost and traces of North Korean provocations are buried, as well as a clear maneuver to cover up North Korea's actions."

He continued, "It is cowardly and irresponsible to keep quiet while walking on eggshells around North Korea, even though our soldiers shed blood," questioning, "Just how many more lives of our soldiers must be sacrificed in return for paying deference to Kim Jong-un?"

Five-term lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun wrote on social media, "Where has that resoluteness gone, when President Lee, as opposition leader in the past, vowed to sternly hold those responsible for the death of Marine Corporal Chae to account?"

Lawmaker Bae June-young also wrote on social media, "Five days have passed since the landmine severed the ankles of South Korean soldiers, yet there has been no on-site forensic examination," questioning, "Could this be related to President Lee's UN speech on September 23 (local time)? Could they have been worried that calling for the easing of sanctions against North Korea at the UN would lose its persuasive power if North Korea were revealed to be behind the landmine incident?"

Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon asked on Facebook, "Disclose who ordered the rejection of the UN Command's demand for an immediate on-site investigation," adding, "If it is such a dangerous 'hell' that cannot even be approached for over a week, who sent our soldiers into that hell without any countermeasures?" The Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) counterattacked, calling the ongoing offensive from the opposition, including the People Power Party, a "conspiracy theory that fuels security anxiety."

Senior Spokesperson Park Sung-joon stated this in a written briefing today, saying, "The People Power Party's practice of turning national security into a tool for political strife has crossed the line."

Park pointed out, "Our military is maintaining thorough readiness and working to minimize the risk of a potential secondary accident," adding, "The People Power Party is only busy disparaging such efforts by the military. Traitorous behavior that only runs political calculations with no regard for national security is where the People Power Party stands today."

He continued, "The People Power Party's conspiracy theories are grave threatening acts that shake the national security of the Republic of Korea," urging, "We hope they immediately stop raising conspiracy theories that incite security anxiety."

Floor Spokesperson Jeon Eun-soo also criticized in a written briefing, saying, "Security is not conducted through speculation," and "Do not use the lives of soldiers and national security for political strife."

Jeon questioned, "The government and military have never ruled out the possibility that the landmine was planted by North Korea," asking, "What on earth is the basis for jumping to the conclusion that 'it is definitely North Korea's doing' before investigation results are out, and claiming that the government is trying to cover it up?"

The Democratic Party also sharpened its tone against the conservative opposition's criticism over the government's "closed-door policy" regarding the repatriation of North Korean prisoners of war from Ukraine.

Senior Spokesperson Park emphasized, "Pursuing the matter confidentially to guarantee the safety of defectors and minimize unnecessary provocation and confrontation is a matter of common sense," adding, "Any normal political group should have held the other side accountable for disclosing it first, before debating whether it was a cover-up."

However, some voices within the Democratic Party also criticized the government's handling of the repatriation of North Korean soldiers to South Korea and the DMZ landmine incident.

Five-term lawmaker Park Jie-won wrote on Facebook, "If our soldiers suffered an accident due to a landmine, it must be disclosed truthfully so the public can understand," asking, "If two North Korean prisoners of war came to our country from Ukraine, why can't the government state the fact that we accepted the prisoners from Ukraine on humanitarian grounds?"

Park pointed out that the government had not properly explained the situation even to the ruling party, saying, "Is this the government disregarding its own ruling party, telling us lawmakers to just sit back, watch the show, and eat rice cakes? Even to fight against the opposition and independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon, you have to be informed to do anything."

He continued, "Instead of just looking to the president, all government officials from the prime minister on down must get their act together," adding, "The public is frightening, and so is the ruling party."

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