By Kim Hyo-jin
The main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea (MPK) proposed setting up a special committee at the National Assembly, Thursday, to look into the planned deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery here.
The party claimed the government has failed to ease public anxiety over the safety of the anti-missile system, saying the Assembly needs to clarify all the suspicions regarding the deployment.
"We suggest that the National Assembly launch a committee to further look into issues surrounding the THAAD system," the party's deputy floor leader Rep. Park Wan-joo said during a party meeting. "The government has only pressured the public to follow its decision blindly. Nothing has been explained clearly so far."
The proposal came a day after a two-day parliamentary interpellation session on the THAAD deployment, which was convened after the government announced a decision to deploy the anti-missile system in Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province next year.
Opposition parties argued the session was not enough to alleviate concerns over the efficacy of the system, potential health hazards, and possible tensions with China.
They increased their offensive toward the government, heralding that the partisan wrangling over THAAD will be prolonged.
"Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn has said it's ‘not appropriate to comment' so many times now it might become his catchphrase," Park said. "The government has to fill in the public at an Assembly special committee if the interpellation session, as it argued, was not the right occasion for it."
Meanwhile, the second-largest opposition People's Party mounted an online anti-THAAD campaign, relaying hours-long speeches by its lawmakers through YouTube.
"There is long-range artillery having been deployed by North Korea along the DMZ. It is mentioned to be a threat to the South whenever tensions run high on the peninsula," chief policymaker Rep. Kim Song-sik said, showing a photo of the weapon during his speech. "But the THAAD system can't shoot them down, which I find ironic in the government's decision."
Rep. Chang Jung-sook, the following speaker, said, "It's not that we don't understand the importance of security. What we can't accept is that the government has pushed ahead with it without seeking a public consensus."
The party continued calling on the government to seek parliamentary approval on the deployment of the anti-missile system.
The ruling Saenuri Party, however, urged opposition parties to shift attention from a decision that has already been made. It also remained silent on the MPK's call for a special THAAD committee.
"I believe questions were answered enough during the interpellation session. It's time to move on," said floor leader Rep. Chung Jin-suk. "The Kim Jong-un government is vehemently opposing the deployment of the THAAD system. It is strong proof that we need it on our soil."
The main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea (MPK) proposed setting up a special committee at the National Assembly, Thursday, to look into the planned deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery here.
The party claimed the government has failed to ease public anxiety over the safety of the anti-missile system, saying the Assembly needs to clarify all the suspicions regarding the deployment.
"We suggest that the National Assembly launch a committee to further look into issues surrounding the THAAD system," the party's deputy floor leader Rep. Park Wan-joo said during a party meeting. "The government has only pressured the public to follow its decision blindly. Nothing has been explained clearly so far."
The proposal came a day after a two-day parliamentary interpellation session on the THAAD deployment, which was convened after the government announced a decision to deploy the anti-missile system in Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province next year.
Opposition parties argued the session was not enough to alleviate concerns over the efficacy of the system, potential health hazards, and possible tensions with China.
They increased their offensive toward the government, heralding that the partisan wrangling over THAAD will be prolonged.
"Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn has said it's ‘not appropriate to comment' so many times now it might become his catchphrase," Park said. "The government has to fill in the public at an Assembly special committee if the interpellation session, as it argued, was not the right occasion for it."
Meanwhile, the second-largest opposition People's Party mounted an online anti-THAAD campaign, relaying hours-long speeches by its lawmakers through YouTube.
"There is long-range artillery having been deployed by North Korea along the DMZ. It is mentioned to be a threat to the South whenever tensions run high on the peninsula," chief policymaker Rep. Kim Song-sik said, showing a photo of the weapon during his speech. "But the THAAD system can't shoot them down, which I find ironic in the government's decision."
Rep. Chang Jung-sook, the following speaker, said, "It's not that we don't understand the importance of security. What we can't accept is that the government has pushed ahead with it without seeking a public consensus."
The party continued calling on the government to seek parliamentary approval on the deployment of the anti-missile system.
The ruling Saenuri Party, however, urged opposition parties to shift attention from a decision that has already been made. It also remained silent on the MPK's call for a special THAAD committee.
"I believe questions were answered enough during the interpellation session. It's time to move on," said floor leader Rep. Chung Jin-suk. "The Kim Jong-un government is vehemently opposing the deployment of the THAAD system. It is strong proof that we need it on our soil."
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