PPP slams defense minister over remarks on trusting US forces in event of war with N. Korea

The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) on Wednesday accused Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul of undermining the South Korea-U.S. alliance over his remarks about trusting the U.S. military in the event of a war with North Korea. Kang came under fire during a parliamentary audit Monday when he questioned whether South Korea can "really trust the U.S. military" if a war broke out with North Korea, while responding to an opposition lawmaker's concerns over Seoul's push to retake wartime operational control (OPCON) from Washington. "The defense minister's remarks are undermining the trust in the 73-year-old alliance," PPP chief spokesperson Park Choong-kwon said in a commentary. Rep. Park criticized Kang for pushing ahead with the OPCON transfer despite not having held any talks with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth since taking office last month. He urged President Lee Jae Myung to immediately dismiss Kang, saying he is no longer qualified to serve as defense minister. Other lawmakers also denounced Kang's remarks, questioning his views on national security. "Is it not because the defe