■ Ruling party intensifies attack over minister’s 'constructed nuclear facilities' remarks
“A unilateral leak made without U.S.–South Korea coordination”
Jeong’s dismissal motion to be presented to the full Assembly tomorrow
“A unilateral leak made without U.S.–South Korea coordination”
Jeong’s dismissal motion to be presented to the full Assembly tomorrow
People Power Party lawmakers convened the National Assembly’s Intelligence Committee on April 27 without other parties present and stepped up their criticism of Unification Minister Jeong Dong‑young over his comments about “constructed nuclear facilities” in North Korea. Democratic Party members and National Intelligence Service Director Lee Jong‑seok did not attend. The People Power Party had previously held the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee and the National Defense Committee on its own. People Power Party members on the Intelligence Committee issued a statement demanding that the Democratic Party and the NIS apologize to the public and immediately agree to convene the committee, accusing them of shirking national security responsibilities. They warned the Lee Jae‑myung administration that “when political calculation outweighs security, South Korea has no future,” and called for Minister Jeong’s immediate dismissal and assurances that similar incidents will not recur.
At the Intelligence Committee session, NIS officials, including Director Lee, were absent. Democratic Party lawmakers and cabinet ministers also skipped last week’s Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee and National Defense Committee sessions convened by the People Power Party.
Lawmakers argued that intelligence on North Korea must be accurate and reliable and therefore handled through close U.S.–South Korea cooperation. They said issues involving nuclear facilities require strict security and bilateral coordination. They added that U.S. restrictions on sharing North Korea intelligence indicate Minister Jeong’s comments amounted to an independent disclosure made without consultation with Washington. Lawmakers warned the remarks could create a serious breach in South Korea’s security net and render joint intelligence assets and accumulated data ineffective, and they called for a swift response. They also suggested the absences by NIS officials and some lawmakers may reflect reluctance to cross President Lee Jae‑myung, who has defended Minister Jeong.
Meanwhile, on April 24 the People Power Party filed a motion to dismiss Minister Jeong over his remarks about North Korea’s “constructed nuclear facilities.” The motion is scheduled to be reported to the National Assembly plenary session on April 28, but opposition from the Democratic Party makes an actual vote uncertain.
