The People Power Party sharply criticized the Lee Jae-myung administration over U.S. President Donald Trump's order to scale back the South Korea-U.S. combined military exercises.
People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok said in a Facebook post on the 17th that it was "a security disaster brought on by the Lee Jae-myung administration's arrogant diplomacy." Jang said, "Too late to cancel, so a drastic reduction? At this rate, the combined drills could disappear altogether," adding, "In the end, things turned out just the way President Lee wanted. I want to ask if he feels relieved."
He went on, "The Minister of Unification and the Minister of the Ministry of National Defense leaked military secrets one after another. Investment in the United States that was promised to Washington is still treading water, and the government has not even resolved the Coupang issue," adding, "This is a diplomatic disaster brought on by the Lee Jae-myung administration."
Regarding President Trump's comment that he has a "very good relationship" with North Korea's State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un, he also said, "(President Lee) is less trusted by the president of an ally than by North Korea's dictator," adding, "The South Korean economy is at risk. South Korea's security is even more at risk. President Lee, do you have a plan?"
Chief spokesperson Park Sung-hoon also said in a commentary, "The grim reality in which a defense drill meant to check real-time response capabilities against North Korean threats has been left a hollow shell is entirely the result the Lee Jae-myung administration brought on itself," adding, "The Lee Jae-myung administration's arrogant diplomatic behavior, which treated the alliance's trust like a rag, invited distrust."
Senior floor spokesperson Choi Eun-seok also said in a commentary, "This instruction by President Trump does not appear unrelated to the recent deadlock in South Korea-U.S. economic talks. The U.S. side openly complained, asking, 'Why is investment in the United States not proceeding properly?,' and Yeo Han-koo, the head of the Office of the Minister for Trade and the chief working-level negotiator, was abruptly dismissed," adding, "Whatever the reason for the dismissal, what is clear is that it is fueling public anxiety and distrust about South Korea-U.S. relations."
Senior People Power Party lawmakers, including Na Kyung-won and Sung Il-jong, also joined in criticizing President Lee, and Reform Party leader Lee Jun-seok said, "In the meantime, the United States is increasing its exercises with other allies. Strengthening drills with other allies while reducing those with South Korea means the center of gravity of the alliance is shifting," adding, "I hope the government will respond seriously to this dangerous signal."