SEOUL - Ahead of the forthcoming April general elections, four political factions, including those led by figures who have departed from both the ruling People Power Party (PPP) and the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), have agreed to consolidate into a new entity.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the newly formed Reform Party will be co-led by former Prime Minister and DP leader Lee Nak-yon, along with former PPP leader Lee Jun-seok. Lee Nak-yon will also head the party's election preparation committee. The amalgamation is seen as a significant move in South Korean politics, with speculation rife on whether these parties would unite under a single banner for the parliamentary elections now only two months away. An official ceremony to celebrate the merger is scheduled following the Lunar New Year holiday.
PYONGYANG - In a stark declaration, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un branded South Korea as the North's "primary foe" and expressed a commitment to defending the nation through military strength rather than diplomatic negotiations, state media reported on Friday.According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim's statements follow North Korea's recent shift from its long-standing policy of pursuing reunification with the South to advocating for the formalization of plans to "completely occupy" South Korean territory in the event of a conflict.
During a visit to the defense ministry on Thursday, which coincided with the 76th anniversary of the founding of the North's Korean People's Army, Kim emphasized the importance of heightened combat readiness and a more formidable military capability. "Defining the South Korean puppets as the most harmful primary foe and invariable principal enemy and deciding it as a national policy to occupy their territory in the event of a contingency is a reasonable measure for the eternal safety of our country and the peace and stability of the future," Kim stated, reinforcing his stance against seeking peace through dialogue. This approach marks a continuation of North Korea's increasingly aggressive rhetoric and actions towards the South, following Kim's earlier declaration of inter-Korean relations as fundamentally adversarial. Accompanied by his daughter, Ju-ae, Kim also participated in a banquet commemorating the military anniversary, highlighting the event's significance.