Strong Reaction from People Power Party Over 'North Side' Expression

President Lee Jae-myung's reference to North Korea as the 'North Side' in his Liberation Day speech, expressing a willingness to restore dialogue, has drawn strong rebuke from the People Power Party.

On the 16th, Choi Eun-seok, the party's chief spokesperson, criticized, "This government's North Korea policy is a series of humiliations that only bring smiles to Kim Jong-un," and added, "It is testing the patience of the people, not showing infinite patience toward North Korea."

Earlier, during his Liberation Day speech on the 15th, President Lee stated, "We respect the North Side's system and do not seek absorption unification, nor do we have any intention of conducting hostile acts."

In response, Spokesperson Choi pointed out, "Declaring that we will not conduct hostile acts against a counterpart with nuclear weapons is an idle statement that turns a blind eye to reality," stressing, "What the people truly want is a firm warning against nuclear and missile threats and robust deterrence enhancement measures."

He went on, "Peace is not gained by begging; it stems from strength," and labeled the mention of restoring the September 19 military agreement as a self-destructive declaration that seeks to re-impose already failed shackles.

Kim Moon-soo: "Remarks Like Kim Jong-un's Spokesperson"

Kim Moon-soo, a candidate for the leadership of the People Power Party, directly criticized, "President Lee Jae-myung has made a declaration of submission by respecting the North Korean regime and saying he will not conduct hostile acts," adding, "Such statements could only come from someone who is not a spokesperson for Kim Jong-un."

He emphasized, "The president should stand in the position of protecting the security of the Republic of Korea, not catering to Kim Jong-un's mood," urging the establishment of a strong unification strategy based on liberal democracy.

The People Power Party harshly criticized the speech, stating, "It is irresponsible leadership that remains silent in the face of North Korea's mockery and turns a blind eye to the public's anxiety," asserting, "This government's North Korea policy is a path of submission, not peace."

Image source: President Lee Jae-myung / News1, Instagram '2_jaemyung'