South Korean leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, Lee Jae-myung, has urged North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un to “cease hostilities.” Lee stated, “He should strive to ensure that the efforts of our predecessors, Kim Jong-il and Kim Il-sung, are not slandered and undermined.” His reference to “our North Korea” while Kim Jong-un frequently threatens South Korea with “war” is striking. This wording is so surprising that it compels a reevaluation of whether Lee actually made such a statement. Subsequently, the Democratic Party spokesperson’s office released Lee’s remarks with the word “our” omitted.
The phrase “our Kim Jong-il and Kim Il-sung’s efforts” raises questions about what Lee meant by it, which he did not clarify, presumably referencing inter-Korean talks. However, the legacy of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il in inter-Korean relations is predominantly marked by destruction and aggression. Kim Il-sung initiated the June 25th invasion, resulting in the deaths of 3 million South Koreans and widespread devastation – a monumental loss for the nation.
Throughout his life, Kim Il-sung persistently advocated for unification under communism while engaging in armed provocations and terrorism. The Blue House attack, the Uljin and Samcheok airbase infiltration, the axe murder in Panmunjom, the Rangoon bombing, the Gimpo Airport attack, the KAL airplane bombing, and the Cheonan sinking were all orchestrated under the regimes of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il. They also developed nuclear weapons with the potential to eradicate their own people, while 20 million in North Korea suffered from starvation. The Kim regime’s actions, such as executing people for watching South Korean dramas by ‘snapping their spines,’ are indicative of their oppressive rule. Lee needs to clarify what he means by the “efforts” of the Kims, especially given their history of turning North Korea into a heavily fortified prison.
Lee commented, “People are concerned about the prospect of war, and we must avoid the error of inadvertently removing the safety pin of peace just to demonstrate a hard stance to North Korea.” While Kim Jong-un possesses nuclear weapons and frequently threatens war, Lee’s remarks imply that South Korea, in its self-defense, is somehow guilty. Lee appears to leverage the fear of war to gain political advantage in the upcoming general election, reminiscent of past events like the Cheonan sinking. If Kim Jong-un plans to invade the South, it seems counterintuitive for him to openly declare war or to provide 2 million artillery shells to Russia. The threat of war might be linked to North Korea’s internal struggles or a strategy to incite war anxiety in South Korea, influencing the general election. A responsible political party would recognize Kim Jong-un’s attempts to interfere in South Korean politics and condemn them in a bipartisan manner. However, the Democratic party and Lee, by seemingly downplaying these threats, appear to be taking a contrary approach.
