The National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, led by the opposition today (11th), criticized the absence of a diplomatic and security control tower during the inquiry into the ‘December 3 Martial Law Incident’ and urged for measures to be implemented.
The meeting, convened at the request of lawmakers from the Democratic Party of Korea, was not attended by members of the People Power Party, as well as officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Unification.
Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Young-bae, who is also a secretary of the committee, stated, “Effectively, the diplomatic and security control tower is currently in a vacuum,” highlighting concerns about the sustainability of the South Korea-U.S. alliance and potential red flags in the foreign exchange and South Korean export markets.
Kim Jun-hyung, a lawmaker from the National Innovation Party, claimed, “Last Friday, ambassadors from five major countries met and decided that if Yoon Suk-yeol continues as president, they would boycott all international summits, including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Gyeongju.”
Regarding this, it was reported that on the 6th, ambassadors from member countries of the ‘Five Eyes’ intelligence-sharing alliance (the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand) gathered to exchange opinions on the situation following the declaration of martial law.
A spokesperson from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, “The government will make every effort to successfully host APEC in 2025 as the chair country,” adding that the government will proceed with its role as chair as planned.
The spokesperson further emphasized, “By holding the APEC 2025 Symposium and informal senior officials’ meeting from the 9th to the 11th as scheduled, we have effectively commenced our activities as chair,” noting that representatives from APEC member countries attended the senior officials’ meeting and expressed support and anticipation for the hosting.
Lawmaker Kim also claimed that on the day martial law was declared, Philip Goldberg, the U.S. Ambassador to South Korea, reported to his home country that he could not contact Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yong and others, implying, “I cannot deal with the Yoon Suk-yeol administration,” and pointed out that “diplomacy is paralyzed.”
Democratic Party lawmaker Han Jeong-ae mentioned the soon-to-launch Donald Trump administration in the U.S., criticizing, “While countries are exerting all diplomatic efforts to engage in behind-the-scenes contacts, we are facing travel advisories to South Korea from countries like Israel and Ukraine, which are at war.”
Opposition lawmakers also condemned the ruling party lawmakers for not attending the meeting.
Lawmaker Kim criticized, “We cannot help but be angry at the ruling party’s attempt to block even the opportunity to review the diplomatic and security situation and reassure the public,” while Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Jae-jeong added, “By avoiding this meeting, the ruling party is neglecting its most basic role.”
Calls for truth-finding from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Unification regarding the martial law incident also emerged.
Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Jae-gang argued that “The Ministry of Unification seriously threatened national security by abetting the distribution of propaganda leaflets to North Korea and triggering localized conflicts,” and called for “a thorough investigation to uncover the truth behind acts of rebellion and to strictly punish those responsible.”