Seoul:The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) has expressed strong criticism toward Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul for remarks he made about the trustworthiness of the U.S. military in the event of a war with North Korea. The comments, which were made during a parliamentary audit, have sparked controversy and calls for his dismissal.
According to Yonhap News Agency, during the audit, Kang questioned whether South Korea can "really trust the U.S. military" if a conflict with North Korea were to occur. This statement was made in response to concerns from an opposition lawmaker regarding South Korea's initiative to regain wartime operational control (OPCON) from the United States.
The PPP's chief spokesperson, Park Choong-kwon, condemned Kang's remarks, stating they undermine the long-standing South Korea-U.S. alliance. Park also criticized Kang for proceeding with the OPCON transfer without having discussions with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth since assuming his position.
In addition to Park, other lawmakers have voiced their disapproval. Rep. Na Kyung-won questioned Kang's stance on national security in a Facebook post, while former PPP lawmaker Yoo Seong-min emphasized the importance of the South Korea-U.S. alliance for the country's safety and called for Kang's removal.
The defense ministry clarified that Kang's comments were not intended to question the U.S.'s credibility but were in response to concerns about a swift OPCON transfer. The ministry highlighted the challenges faced by the United States in its ongoing conflict with Iran.
The PPP also criticized Unification Minister Chung Dong-young for describing land mines as defensive weapons. During a parliamentary audit, Chung faced backlash for suggesting that recent mine blasts in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) were not deliberate attacks by North Korea. PPP Rep. Kim Gunn denounced Chung's remarks, asserting that the mines were intentionally planted by North Korea, leading to injuries of three South Korean soldiers in a September incident.