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| Suh Hoon, chief of the National Intelligence Service, attends a plenary session of the Intelligence Committee at the National Assembly in Seoul, Wednesday. / Yonhap |
By Kang Seung-woo
The controversy over two North Korean defector-turned-lawmakers-elect's incorrect speculation on North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's health is expanding to a political feud between the rival parties, as they argue whether it will be appropriate for the two to be placed on National Assembly committees dealing with classified information on Pyongyang.
The unexpected fracas comes after Thae Yong-ho and Ji Seong-ho, both of whom were elected to the National Assembly last month, came under heavy fire for their unconfirmed remarks on Kim's health that contradicted the government's stance. Thae, a former North Korean diplomat, told CNN that Kim was unable to stand up by himself, while Ji, an advocate for North Korean human rights, said that Kim had probably died. Amid intensifying criticism on their remarks, they both apologized, Monday.
The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is claiming that they should not be allowed to be on the National Assembly Intelligence Committee or the National Defense Committee that deal with confidential intelligence. Thae and Ji belong to the main opposition United Future Party (UFP) and its satellite offshoot, the Future Korea Party (FKP), respectively.
"We are wondering whether their remarks as lawmakers, regarding inter-Korean relations and issues on the Korean Peninsula, may gain public trust. In that respect, there are growing calls that they should be excluded from the two standing committees," DPK spokesman Rep. Song Gab-seok said Tuesday.
Independent lawmaker Min Byung-doo also said, "This incident based on small pieces of intelligence betrayed the trust of the people. I hope they will stand up for North Korean defectors by working on other parliamentary committees."
Furthermore, the DPK urged the two parties to make a public apology and discipline them as their remarks triggered unnecessary confusion in society and costs for the country's financial markets.
In response, the opposition bloc hit back at the ruling camp.
"Although the two lawmakers-elect disappointed the people due to their incorrect speculation, the governing party's criticism is going too far," UFP floor leader Shim Jae-cheol said during a party meeting Wednesday.
"The DPK is lenient to the North Korean regime but too strict on defectors-turned-lawmakers-elect. While it denounces them, why doesn't it request the North apologize for gunshots fired at a guard post?" Shim said, referring to the North's firing of four shots at a South Korean guard tower in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) Sunday, which the government said seemed to be "unintentional."
UFP spokesman Rep. Kim Sung-won was also critical, saying, "Not satisfied with calling for the exclusion of them from the intelligence and defense committees, the DPK is now talking about punitive measures against them. It is seen as nothing but nitpicking by any means. It is an act of old politics."
Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun, an independent lawmaker, also defended Thae and Ji, saying they should not be discriminated against.
"They can choose any standing committees they want and request any intelligence they have access to as lawmakers," Yoon said. While the North Korea leader was absent from public view, Yoon also said he underwent cardiovascular surgery, citing a source inside the North.
Meanwhile, the National Intelligence Service (NIS) told Intelligence Committee lawmakers, Wednesday, that it believes the North Korean leader did not undergo surgery or a medical procedure related to his heart, despite being absent from public view for 20 days. In addition, the spy agency said Kim was handling state affairs as usual.
According to the NIS, Kim has made 17 public appearances so far this year, the fewest ever, which is believed to have to do with the coronavirus pandemic and his focus on domestic affairs.
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