By Yi Whan-woo
An opposition lawmaker raised allegations, Monday, that South Korea signed at least six secret military deals with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) under the governments of conservative Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye.
Rep. Kim Jong-dae of the Justice Party claimed the Lee government signed five of the deals on military cooperation, while the Park administration signed at least one.
Kim said such deals are believed to be closely linked to Lee's "energy diplomacy," a controversial investment project in overseas energy that ended up reporting lower-than-expected profits and severe losses.
The legislator also said the military deals are suspected to be related to Korea's landmark $18.6 billion nuclear reactor project with the UAE during Lee's term in 2009.
Korea then beat the more favored U.S. and French rivals to one of the Middle East's biggest ever energy contracts.
During the Park government in 2016, Korea also won another nuclear plant bid worth $49.4 billion.
The Justice Party lawmaker called the six alleged secret deals "unjust," saying "They were in violation of our law."
He criticized the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) as well, pointing out that its predecessor, the Saenuri Party was, the ruling party under Lee and Park.
"The LKP must repent its past and sincerely apologize to the people," Kim said. "I plan to visit the UAE to investigate the case and will disclose every single truth concerning the LKP if it does not repent."
The allegations coincided with the visit of UAE Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan's trusted aide Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak to Seoul, Monday.
He arrived here amid rumors that Korea recently had a diplomatic row with the UAE over President Moon Jae-in's nuclear phase-out policy, and that Moon hurriedly sent his chief of staff Im Jong-seok to the UAE last month to restore relations.
An opposition lawmaker raised allegations, Monday, that South Korea signed at least six secret military deals with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) under the governments of conservative Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye.
Rep. Kim Jong-dae of the Justice Party claimed the Lee government signed five of the deals on military cooperation, while the Park administration signed at least one.
Kim said such deals are believed to be closely linked to Lee's "energy diplomacy," a controversial investment project in overseas energy that ended up reporting lower-than-expected profits and severe losses.
The legislator also said the military deals are suspected to be related to Korea's landmark $18.6 billion nuclear reactor project with the UAE during Lee's term in 2009.
Korea then beat the more favored U.S. and French rivals to one of the Middle East's biggest ever energy contracts.
During the Park government in 2016, Korea also won another nuclear plant bid worth $49.4 billion.
The Justice Party lawmaker called the six alleged secret deals "unjust," saying "They were in violation of our law."
He criticized the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) as well, pointing out that its predecessor, the Saenuri Party was, the ruling party under Lee and Park.
"The LKP must repent its past and sincerely apologize to the people," Kim said. "I plan to visit the UAE to investigate the case and will disclose every single truth concerning the LKP if it does not repent."
The allegations coincided with the visit of UAE Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan's trusted aide Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak to Seoul, Monday.
He arrived here amid rumors that Korea recently had a diplomatic row with the UAE over President Moon Jae-in's nuclear phase-out policy, and that Moon hurriedly sent his chief of staff Im Jong-seok to the UAE last month to restore relations.
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