By Choi Ha-young
Liberal and conservative parties showed conflicting reactions, Monday, on North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s invitation to South Korean President Moon Jae-in to visit Pyongyang.
The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) lauded it as an achievement of the liberal Moon administration, while the conservative Liberty Korea Party (LKP) said that an inter-Korean summit without denuclearization was an “act to benefit the enemy.”
“On Friday, we sent out a message of peace to the world, through the magnificent opening ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics,” DPK Chairwoman Choo Mi-ae said Monday.
“The DPK welcomes the North’s proposal of Moon’s visit to Pyongyang with open arms. If it takes place, the summit would be remembered as the largest achievement of the Winter Games.”
Choo and DPK lawmakers took part in culture event on the sidelines of the Olympics. She enjoyed a North Korean music troupe’s concert in Gangneung, Feb. 8, along with the North’s band leader Hyon Song-wol.
The minor liberal Party for Democracy and Peace, which is promoting the Sunshine Policy promulgated by former President Kim Dae-jung, also vowed to back up the inter-Korean summit.
On the other hand, the LKP expressed concern that the North’s peace overture is likely to erode the international community’s joint moves against the nuclear-armed country.
“Kim Jong-un participated in the Olympics due to the allies’ pressure on the North through joint military exercise, deployment of U.S. strategic bombers and sanctions,” said LKP spokesman Rep. Choung Tae-ok. “If Moon pushes ahead with the summit, the joint exercises will not be resumed and no more U.S. weapons will be deployed.”
The conservative Bareun Party also criticized the government. “Citizens only know the fact that Moon met Kim Yo-jong, since the President has remained silent about the nuclear issue,” spokesman Lee Jong-chul said Sunday.
The People’s Party, which will merge with the Bareun Party, Tuesday, withheld judgment on the summit. “The summit itself should not be an ultimate goal. It is only meaningful when it becomes a solution to resolve denuclearization,” Chairman Ahn Cheol-soo said in a press conference Monday.