South Korea's Progressive Parties Condemn US Strikes on Iran as 'Crime Against Humanity'

Four progressive parties in South Korea issued a joint statement Saturday strongly condemning US military action against Iran and demanding an immediate halt to attacks and a return to diplomatic solutions.

The Coalition of Reform and Progressive Parties—comprising the Rebuilding Korea Party, Progressive Party, Basic Income Party, and Social Democratic Party—released a statement declaring the airstrikes "a grave situation that has shattered international trust."

"These strikes, launched while Geneva nuclear negotiations were underway, represent a self-inflicted rejection of diplomatic resolution and a direct violation of the UN Charter's prohibition on the use of force," the parties stated.

The coalition criticized civilian casualties from the strikes as "a crime against humanity that violates international humanitarian law," noting that children were among the victims.

The parties challenged President Donald Trump's justification of eliminating an "imminent threat," stating that "no objective evidence has been presented to support this claim, and even within the United States, analysts have noted no confirmed signs that Iran was close to acquiring nuclear weapons."

Invoking the 2003 Iraq War, the statement warned: "We must not forget the historical lesson of how a war launched under the pretext of weapons of mass destruction produced catastrophic results."

"An international order where war and peace hinge on Trump's judgment cannot be tolerated," the parties declared. "The international community must immediately cease military action and return to diplomatic negotiations."

The coalition also urged the South Korean government to "make protecting Korean nationals and expatriates in Iran, Israel, and other affected areas its top priority and pursue all necessary diplomatic and consular measures."