Defense Minister An Kyung-baek Demands Apology: Is the Military Really ‘Coddling’ Kim Jong-un?

Defense Secretary An Gyu-baek has called on an opposition lawmaker to apologize to the military and the public for his reckless remarks claiming that “the armed forces are pandering to Kim Jong Un’s whims.”

In a social media post today (10th), Secretary An demanded an immediate halt to what he called a betrayal of the military, which continues to defend the nation on land, sea, and in the air. He urged the lawmaker to issue an apology.

The controversy stems from comments made by People Power Party Rep. Park Chung-kwon during a parliamentary questioning session yesterday (9th). Rep. Park criticized the military’s capabilities, stating, “The armed forces lack threat awareness, countermeasures, discipline, and training. They have nothing except the ability to cater to Kim Jong Un’s mood.”

Upon returning from a defense diplomacy trip to Saudi Arabia, Secretary An addressed the remarks, saying, “How dare anyone speak so disparagingly about our military?” He acknowledged that while government policies and even the defense secretary can be criticized, “there are limits and lines that should not be crossed.”

Secretary An emphasized, “Our military has been and will always be dedicated solely to the safety of our nation and its people.” He added, “We will continue to serve, guided only by the will of the people.”

The defense chief called on Rep. Park to “stop making excuses and apologize to the military and the public for his irresponsible comments, if he truly understands the weight of his position.” An concluded that this would be “the minimum courtesy owed to the constituents who elected him to Congress.”

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By Jang Han-byeol (good_star@yna.co.kr)