DP criticizes foreign, defense ministers’ absence at parliamentary meeting

The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) on Tuesday denounced Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun for their decision to skip an interpellation session at the National Assembly. The interpellation session on foreign affairs, unification and security affairs, initially set for 2 p.m., was eventually postponed to 7 p.m., with the opposition parties demanding the ministers' attendance. The ruling People Power Party (PPP) explained that both ministers had valid reasons for their absence, including attending the second Responsible Artificial Intelligence in the Military Domain (REAIM) conference. The PPP administrative office also claimed their absence from the plenary session had already been approved by both parties beforehand. The DP, however, argued that the ministers were using the REAIM conference as excuses to avoid attending the session. Lawmakers of the DP and the minor Rebuilding Korea Party issued a statement earlier in the day, calling it a "disgrace" for the Assembly to hold an "interpellation session on diplomatic, unification and security affairs without the foreign and defense ministers." Source: Yonhap News Agency