Blue House censures Defense Minister for critical comments

Posted on : 2017-09-20 18:07 KST Modified on : 2017-09-20 18:07 KST
Song Young-moo was forced to apology after his latest remarks clashed with official policy
Defense Minister Song Young-moo waits for his turn to speak while Minister of Trade
Defense Minister Song Young-moo waits for his turn to speak while Minister of Trade

The Blue House has moved to censure Defense Minister Song Young-moo for his provocative statements, issuing a ‘stern warning’. The warning appears to be a hasty attempt to deflect criticism that Korea’s top diplomacy and security officials are fighting amongst themselves amidst a tense security crisis. Song later ‘apologized’ for his statements in a National Assembly standing committee meeting.

In a press conference on September 19, Blue House Senior Secretary for Public Relations Yoon Young-chan stated, “Regarding Minister Song’s statement in a National Assembly National Defense Committee (NDC) meeting, we believe that the language used was inappropriate and lacked refinement. Considering that it could lead to policy confusion, Minister Song has been given a stern warning.”

In a Blue House Action Agenda Meeting held that morning, Chief of Staff Lim Jong-seok and director of the Blue House National Security Office Chung Eui-yong agreed that a stern warning should be issued to Song, with Lim making the phone call to pass on the warning and express concern over the minister’s remarks. During a National Assembly NDC meeting the previous day, Song had described Yonsei University professor and special presidential advisor Moon Chung-in as “deplorable” for making remarks as an academic that were “not fit for a special presidential advisor.”

Regarding eight million dollars in humanitarian aid that was to be provided to North Korea through an international organization under the government, Song said he would “significantly postpone the aid provision date.” The Defense Minister has already been embroiled in controversy many times before for openly making statements that conflict with official Blue House guidelines, including comments that “the deployment of tactical US nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula is an option we should consider.”

Until now, there have been complaints within the Blue House about Song’s outspoken comments, but this sentiment had been conveyed to the minister in more subtle ways or through Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon as a sign of respect. This was because if the government was seen making public reference to the problem or speaking out against Song’s remarks, it could cause unwanted speculation about conflict amongst top diplomacy and security officials. However, the issuance of a strong public warning to Song demonstrates that the Blue House has decided it can no longer remain silent or ignore his statements, possibly concerned about the reoccurrence of future ‘mishaps.’

“Song has been making too many provocative statements,” said a high level official from the Blue House. “He has been given a stern warning for his statements, including comments about the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons.”

The official went on to say, “Any change to the schedule of humanitarian aid provision to North Korea is not within the Ministry of National Defense’s jurisdiction,” criticizing Song for overstepping his ministerial boundaries and making unrefined remarks.

After publicly announcing the warning issued to Song, the Blue House official went to the Press Center and stated, “There is no chance that this will lead to a personnel change, and it is incorrect to talk about disarray amongst diplomacy and security officials. Issuing statements about government ministers or cabinet members falls within the realm of Blue House affairs. The comments made by the Defense Minister, who is a cabinet member unlike Moon Chung-in, can appear to be official statements of the government’s position. This is why Minister Song was asked to be more careful. But it is plain wrong to talk about confusion among diplomatic and security officials.”

On the same day, Song later apologized for his criticism of Professor Moon in a plenary session of the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee, stating that his remarks “went too far.” In response to a question by Liberty Korea Party lawmaker Kim Jin-tae about whether it was unfair for the Blue House National Security Office Director to reprimand the Defense Minister for having a different opinion from a presidential advisor, Song once again bowed his head and stated, “I don’t think it’s unfair, and I apologized for my unrefined comments.”

By Jung Yu-gyung and Kim Kyu-nam, staff reporters

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