Ruling, opposition parties trade blame over failed North Korea condemnation resolution

The ruling and opposition parties clashed Thursday over North Korea's laying of landmines in the Demilitarized Zone. Both the Democratic Party of Korea and the People Power Party called on Pyongyang to apologize, but each blamed the other for the failure to adopt a condemnation resolution.

Democratic Party Floor Leader Han Byung-do, speaking at a policy coordination meeting at the National Assembly, said a joint investigation by the South Korean military and the UN Command had concluded that the incident was "a clear violation of the Armistice Agreement by North Korea."

Han added that South Korean forces had urged the North to apologize and take responsible action. "We strongly condemn North Korea's provocative acts that threaten peace on the Korean Peninsula," he said. "We urge North Korea to offer a responsible apology and take measures to prevent a recurrence."

Han, however, placed the blame for the failed adoption of a condemnation resolution at the National Assembly's Defense Committee on Tuesday squarely on the PPP. The two parties had agreed that the incident constituted a violation of the Armistice Agreement, but clashed over language in the draft resolution calling for a "review of humanitarian aid to North Korea."

"The Defense Committee's condemnation resolution included a demand for North Korea to acknowledge responsibility and apologize," Han said, "yet the PPP ultimately refused to agree to its adoption."

He added that it was "contradictory" for the PPP to block the resolution by attaching additional conditions and then criticize the government's willingness to respond. "We ask the PPP to stop spreading conspiracy theories that undermine military morale and heighten public anxiety," he said.

The PPP, while also demanding an apology and accountability from North Korea, sharpened its attacks on the Democratic Party.

PPP Leader Jang Dong-hyeok, attending a supreme council meeting Thursday, called the incident "a clear act of aggression that cannot be forgiven by any words," and said the party "strongly demands an immediate apology from North Korean authorities and full restoration measures, including the removal of DMZ landmines."

Jang also took aim at the Democratic Party, saying Defense Committee Chairman Jin Sung-jun had described North Korea's landmines as defensive. "They crossed the boundary and planted lethal weapons," Jang said. "If that counts as defensive, what provocation or act of aggression by North Korea would not?"

He also criticized the Democratic Party for using North Korea's actions as a pretext to attack the previous administration. "I can hardly tell whether they are the ruling party of the Republic of Korea or a Yeouido branch of the Korean Workers' Party," he said.

PPP Floor Leader Jeong Jeom-sik said the condemnation resolution had failed at the Defense Committee "because of the Democratic Party's obstinacy," adding that the PPP had demanded a halt to aid to the North and the reinstallation of loudspeakers and resumption of broadcasts toward North Korea, but the Democratic Party had opposed both.

"The opposition's demands are plain common sense," Jeong said, escalating his rhetoric. "Providing aid to North Korea while it carries out provocations and acts of aggression is tantamount to aiding the enemy."