▲President Lee Jae-myung said Tuesday that "regarding the specific timing and procedures, the ruling Democratic Party should make the decision after gathering public opinion and going through a deliberation process" concerning the "fabricated indictment special probe," according to Hong Ik-pyo, senior presidential secretary for political affairs. However, President Lee described the special probe itself as "something that must be done." Lee's call for "deliberation" is being interpreted as effectively ordering a slowdown, amid signs that the ruling party's push for the special probe bill could adversely affect the June 3 local elections. If that is the case, it is regrettable that the special probe bill — which has drawn criticism as a "self-issued pardon" for President Lee himself — is being approached from the standpoint of electoral gains and losses.
▲North Korea's women's football team "Naegohyang Sports Club" will visit Suwon on the 20th of this month to participate in the semifinals of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women's Champions League (AWCL). It will be the first visit to South Korea by a North Korean team since December 2018. It is quite curious what lies behind North Korea's sudden change of stance, after having remained unresponsive to continued dialogue gestures from the South. In any case, with North Korea having declared a "two hostile states" doctrine and continuing its missile provocations, one should not hastily indulge in wishful thinking.
