Opposition parties criticize Moon's role in DMZ meeting

Opposition political parties were doubtful about President Moon Jaein's role in brokering a historic meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jongun at the inter-Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).

But political analysts here said their claims are highly unlikely to win major backing from the public as Trump and Kim Jongun agreed to set up teams to resume the stalled nuclear dialogue after the breakdown in Hanoi, February.

Rep. Na Kyungwon, floor leader of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP), insisted President Moon was dismissed as a third wheel in the momentous encounter between Trump and Kim. "Moon appears to have ended up becoming a guest in the denuclearization process despite his efforts to play mediator. The situation remains unchanged."

Adding to Na, Sohn Hakkyu, chairman of the minor opposition Bareunmirae Party (BMP), also pointed out President Moon has been excluded from the North Korean nuclear conflict issues.

Their remarks came one day after President Moon, Kim Jongun and Trump met at the DMZ, where Kim and Trump held a de facto "third summit" at the Freedom House on the South's side of Panmunjeom. The meeting lasted about 53 minutes without President Moon.

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), the Party for Democracy and Peace (PDP) and the Justice Party largely hailed the Trump-Kim meeting. They agreed to push for concerted efforts to back follow-up measures, if any, to keep the momentum of the Washington-Pyongyang talks alive.

"I suggest the National Assembly needs to form a delegation to visit the North as early as possible to advance talks for various inter-Korean issues such as additional sending of humanitarian aid to the North and a quick reopening of the Gaeseong Industrial Complex, as well as tourism projects to Mount Geumgang," DPK Chairman Lee Haechan said during a meeting with the other four leaders of political parties, Monday.

Meanwhile, LKP lawmaker Rep. Khang Hyoshang is under fire for his failed attempt to deride the Trump-Kim meeting. "According to my sources, it is highly possible that Trump and Kim would exchange phone calls with each other without meeting in person," the lawmaker wrote on Facebook.

After the meeting, he retracted his words by saying "I am happy to make a wrong prediction and impressed by Trump's strong move," but other political parties, especially the ruling DPK, denounced Khang's intended political attack.

Rep. Park Jumin, a Supreme Council member of the DPK, criticized Khang. "Please stop hindering the peace-building process on the Korean Peninsula by excessively tarnishing its reputation," Park said.