Clashes between rival political parties over a suspected landmine explosion that recently occurred in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) have continued throughout the Chuseok holiday.

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

Floor Leader Jeong Jeom-sig wrote in a Facebook post today (September 26), "It was President Lee Jae-myung who said we must never again hear words like, 'When called up, you are the nation's son; when injured, you are your own family's son; and when dead, who are you?'" He criticized, "Yet this country's Ministry of National Defense and military are treating the wounded soldiers whose ankles were severed in the DMZ landmine accident as 'someone else's son.'"

Floor Leader Jeong urged, "We already remember the person who enjoyed rounds of golf while treating a Navy sailor who died after going missing in the East Sea in July as 'Who are you?' The inconsistency between President Lee's words and actions is nothing new," adding, "Promptly and clearly announce who is responsible for the landmine explosion based on the five Ws and one H."

Senior Spokesperson Park Sung-hoon said in a commentary, "Even at this very moment, the Lee Jae-myung administration is postponing an on-site investigation, offering only deceptive excuses that it is 'approaching cautiously because it is dangerous.'" He added, "This delayed response is aimed at waiting for time to pass so evidence is lost and traces of North Korean provocation are buried, and it is an obvious scheme to cover up North Korea's actions."

He continued, "It is a cowardly and irresponsible act to keep their mouths tightly shut while watching North Korea's reaction even though our soldiers shed blood," questioning, "Just how many more lives of our soldiers must be given up in return for walking on eggshells around Kim Jong-un?"

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

Lawmaker Bae June-young also wrote in a social media post, "Five days have passed since the accident in which a Republic of Korea soldier's ankle was severed by a landmine, yet there has been no on-site forensic examination." He questioned, "Could this be related to President Lee's speech at the United Nations on September 23 (local time)? While advocating for the easing of sanctions against North Korea at the UN, wasn't there a concern that the speech would lose credibility if North Korea is revealed as the culprit behind the landmine incident?"

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

Senior Spokesperson Park Sung-joon stated in a written briefing today, "The People Power Party's behavior of using security as a tool for political strife is crossing the line."

Senior Spokesperson Park pointed out, "Our military is maintaining thorough readiness and working to minimize the risk of potential secondary accidents." He added, "The People Power Party is busy only disparaging such efforts by the military. An unpatriotic attitude of running political calculations with zero regard for national security is where the People Power Party currently stands."

He then urged, "The People Power Party's conspiracy theories are a grave threat shaking the national security of the Republic of Korea," adding, "We urge them to immediately stop raising conspiracy theories that fuel security anxiety."

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

Floor Spokesperson 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 concluding before the investigation results are released that 'it is definitely North Korea's doing' and claiming that the government is trying to cover it up?"

The Democratic Party also lashed out at the conservative opposition's criticism of 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 an entirely common-sense measure," adding, "If they were a normal political group, they should have held the other party accountable for making it public first, before questioning whether it was a cover-up."

However, voices criticizing the government's response to the repatriation of North Korean soldiers to South Korea and the DMZ landmine accident also emerged from within the Democratic Party.

Five-term lawmaker Park Jie-won wrote on Facebook, "If our soldier was injured in a landmine accident, revealing the facts as they are is how our public can understand." He added, "If two North Korean prisoners of war from Ukraine came to our country, why can't we disclose that we took custody of the prisoners from Ukraine on humanitarian grounds?"

Lawmaker Park pointed out that the government did not properly brief even the ruling party, saying, "Is this the government disrespecting the ruling party, telling us ruling party lawmakers to just sit by and watch? Even to fight against the opposition and independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon, one needs to know what is going on to do the job."

He continued, "Rather than looking only to the president, all government officials from the prime minister on down must get their act together," adding, "Both the public and the ruling party are daunting."

(Photo: Yonhap News)