Defense minister out of tune with Cheong Wa Dae

By Kim Rahn

Defense Minister Song Young-moo has continuously been making comments that are out of tune with Cheong Wa Dae and the ruling bloc.

Now, officials at the presidential office and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) are criticizing his remarks for causing confusion about government policies.

The latest incident took place Dec. 1 when he was answering questions from lawmakers at a National Assembly session two days after North Korea launched an intercontinental ballistic missile.

He said the country should consider a naval blockade against the North if the United States makes this proposal as part of stronger sanctions against the Kim Jong-un regime.

The minister said the government had reviewed such a plan and concluded it would participate in the blockade if such a request was made, adding the review was conducted by the National Security Council (NSC).

But on the same day, a senior Cheong Wa Dae official told reporters that the government was not considering a naval blockade, saying President Moon Jae-in and U.S. President Donald Trump did not discuss the issue during their phone conversation the day before.

After Song’s remarks were made public, the official said the NSC had never discussed the matter, adding, “They seem to be Song’s personal view.”

Apparently considering the disharmony with Cheong Wa Dae, Song said in a forum Monday, “I’m telling you there is no gap between me and the President and other presidential aides.”

However, it was not the first time for Song and Cheong Wa Dae to show differences over policies.

In August and September, Song said South Korea would consider redeploying U.S. tactical nuclear weapons to deter North Korea’s nuclear threats _ a move the conservative opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) is pursuing, but the liberal Moon government opposes.

As controversy grew, Cheong Wa Dae and the defense ministry reconfirmed the government was not considering nuclear armament, with the presidential office giving a warning to Song.

But in the Dec. 1 Assembly session, when Rep. Kyeong Dae-soo of the LKP asked if South Korea needs its own nuclear capability, Song said, “You and I have the same direction.”

The ministry explained Song meant he agreed on the need to enhance the allies’ deterrence capabilities against the North’s threats, not on the redeployment of tactical nuclear weapons.

He received a “stern warning” from Cheong Wa Dae in September as well over defamatory remarks about the President’s security and diplomacy adviser, Moon Chung-in, who proposed reducing the scale of South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises in exchange for the North’s suspension of its nuclear and missile programs.

Song said in an Assembly session that it was “deplorable” for Moon Chung-in to speak to the media carelessly. After Cheong Wa Dae’s warning, Song apologized to him for his “careless remarks.”

At another parliamentary session in November, he caused a stir by saying “it was a good thing” for former Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin to be released after 11 days of custody over his alleged illegal involvement in political activities in favor of the then ruling bloc.

He has been criticized for derogatory sexual remarks as well. During a visit to the Joint Security Area (JSA) last week to boost the morale of South Korean soldiers after a North Korean soldier’s defection, he said, “It’s not fun to listen to someone haranguing before a food table. People say that the shorter speeches and miniskirts are the better.”

Officials at Cheong Wa Dae and the DPK say that they cannot defend the minister anymore. “Whenever Song comes to the Assembly, we feel uneasy about what remarks he would make,” a DPK official said.

Rep. Woo Sang-ho of the DPK said, “Song is a good soldier, but as a minister, he needs political sense. He has to consider whether his remarks may seem disharmonious with Cheong Wa Dae and may make people nervous about security.”