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Lee Jun-seok, head of the Reform Party, commented on the 4th about the U.S. military’s detention of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife the day before, saying, “The same approach could be used against North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.”

The leader shared on Facebook that day, “The U.S. Attorney General, citing allegations that President Maduro was responsible for the flow of cocaine into the U.S. and used the profits to fund terrorist groups, did not classify him as a ‘head of state’ but rather as the ‘leader of a transnational criminal organization,’” and further stated, “The global community has previously leveled similar criminal accusations against North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.”

He provided examples, such as the involvement in the manufacturing and export of methamphetamine and opium through the Workers’ Party of Korea’s Room 39, cyberattacks on global financial institutions and cryptocurrency platforms by the Reconnaissance General Bureau’s ‘Lazarus Group’ to steal billions of dollars, the creation and circulation of ‘supernotes’—highly advanced counterfeit U.S. $100 bills—and the 2017 killing of Kim Jong-nam at Kuala Lumpur Airport in Malaysia using the VX nerve agent, along with the death of American student Otto Warmbier due to detention and torture.

Lee Jun-seok stated, “Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Putin are probably closely observing this scenario.” He voiced worry that the U.S. military action, based on its legal justification, might be seen as a signal that China could use the excuse of ‘crushing separatist groups’ against Taiwan, while Russia might justify its actions in Ukraine by claiming to eliminate Nazis.

The leader stated, “What South Korea requires at this moment is to clearly communicate to the global community the idea that the use of force without prior agreement should not be accepted as a standard method for settling international conflicts.” He further mentioned, “If South Korea fails to define this principle, we will lack the basis to voice concerns if China applies similar reasoning in the Taiwan Strait or if Russia does so in Eastern Europe in the future,” and wrote, “I hope the South Korean government will guarantee the security of its citizens living in Venezuela and will actively and independently promote the concept of reducing tensions globally.”

Previously, the U.S. military carried out a land-based operation in Venezuela on the 3rd, detaining and relocating President Maduro along with his wife. Shortly afterward, U.S. President Donald Trump addressed the media at Mar-a-Lago in Florida, declaring, “This operation, which utilized all resources of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, was a flawless display of American strength,” and further noted, “It was a successful mission unlike anything seen since World War II.”