Han Byeong-do, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, criticized Jang Dong-hyuk of the People Power Party on August 21 for attacking President Lee Jae-myung over the reduction of US-South Korea joint military exercises.
Speaking at a Supreme Council meeting in Gangneung, Han stated, "President Donald Trump expressed his intention to reduce the joint exercises to create conditions for dialogue with North Korea, and President Lee fully agrees with Trump's decision, emphasizing that South Korea must take responsibility for its own security."
He further questioned, "If you cannot criticize Trump’s decision but only attack President Lee, who is trying to strengthen US-South Korea cooperation towards the same goal, whose politics are you serving?" He also emphasized that the adjustment of the exercises was made after consultations between the defense authorities of both countries, ensuring that essential readiness and training objectives would be maintained.
Han added, "The transfer of wartime operational control is not a weakening of the US-South Korea alliance, but a path for South Korea to lead its own defense and strengthen the history of the alliance. To equate diplomatic efforts for peace with a loss of security and to misrepresent the transfer of operational control as a withdrawal of US troops is not just criticism; it is a dangerous falsehood that incites public anxiety."
He stressed, "There can be no division in security between parties. There is no room for political strife in front of the public. The People Power Party must immediately stop using national security as a bargaining chip. The Democratic Party will work to ensure peace in the region and along the border based on strong defense and a solid US-South Korea alliance, contributing to the prosperity of peace on the Korean Peninsula and in East Asia."
Meanwhile, the US-South Korea joint exercises are set to conclude today, earlier than the originally planned date of August 27.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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