"No Political Strife" vs. "Subservience to North Korea"... Questioning Session Today

[Anchor]

Democratic Party lawmakers visited the military unit where a landmine explosion occurred, emphasizing that the incident must not become a "subject of political strife" and calling for a thorough investigation. People Power Party lawmakers criticized the ruling camp, claiming it is walking on eggshells around North Korea. The ruling and opposition parties will question the Ministry of National Defense at the National Assembly today (September 29).

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 Infantry Division, where the landmine explosion took place.

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

[Representative Kim Byung-joo / Democratic Party: Key pieces of evidence—the fragments and military gear—were submitted (to the National Forensic Service), weren't they?]

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

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

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

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

[Representative Lim Jong-deuk / People Power Party: What is needed on the ground is managing the aftermath, maintaining readiness, and stabilizing the troops.]

and lashed out at the ruling camp for "subservience to North Korea," claiming it was walking on eggshells around Pyongyang.

[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 external treason that goes beyond impeachment and warrants an immediate criminal investigation.]

Visiting the National Assembly, Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul denied allegations that the on-site investigation had been delayed out of concern over North Korea, stating that South Korea will respond resolutely if it is confirmed to be the work of the North Korean military.

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

Meanwhile, the ruling and opposition parties agreed to hold a plenary meeting of the National Defense Committee this afternoon (September 29) to conduct a questioning session on 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.