The National Assembly's National Defense Committee again exposed a partisan split over drafting a resolution condemning North Korea for a landmine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea pressed for swift adoption, saying the committee should "at least issue a condemnation," while the opposition People Power Party held to its position that the text "must include a commitment to a firm response."
The committee discussed the resolution on the 12th before the start of a parliamentary audit held at the Military Manpower Administration office in Daejeon. After the mine explosion on Sept. 21 and the confirmation that North Korea had planted the device, the committee broadly agreed to issue a condemnation. But adoption has been repeatedly delayed by disagreement between the two parties over the wording.
Committee Chairman Jin Sung-joon said condemning North Korea was the most pressing need and that demanding an apology and a pledge to prevent a recurrence should come first. He called on both parties to convene the bill review subcommittee and process the resolution quickly.
Rep. Kim Byung-joo, the ruling party's committee liaison, said in a procedural statement that both parties were condemning North Korea with one voice and that a consensus had formed around a resolution of condemnation. "It is deeply regrettable that talks broke down over the final wording. It needs to be adopted quickly in the committee and sent to the plenary session," he said, urging passage. "If there is disagreement over the wording, we can keep it very short and include only the condemnation. Take out whatever is disputed — it is fine if only the condemnation goes in," he added, asking the People Power Party to cooperate.
Rep. Lim Jong-deuk, the opposition's committee liaison, countered that it had become clear the incident was a North Korean provocation. "In that case, demands for an apology and for prevention of a recurrence must naturally be included, along with a firm response and the will to bring about a change in behavior," he said. Lim criticized the Democratic Party's stance, saying People Power Party members had argued consistently on the point. "I do not understand the logic of saying North Korea was in the wrong while also saying we should not mention what the military or the government should do about it," he said.
"Both parties should just condemn and leave it at that? Is that what you are asking us to do?" Lim said. "I ask you, please — if North Korea was in the wrong, I say once again that the resolution must demand an apology and prevention of a recurrence, and must include firm military measures that will bring about a change in behavior."
Democratic Party members of the committee, meanwhile, submitted a request to the chairman in the names of all of them, asking that a full committee meeting be convened at 10 a.m. on the 13th to adopt the resolution. The party also proposed to the People Power Party that the bill review subcommittee meet at 9 a.m., ahead of that session, to process the resolution for referral to the full committee.