Minister candidate Jeong Dong-young evaluated North Korea as a threat the previous day, while Minister of National Defense candidate Ahn Gyu-baek stated during the National Defense Committee confirmation hearing on the 15th that North Korea's regime and military are the main enemy of the Republic of Korea.

Candidate Ahn responded during the confirmation hearing to a question from People Power Party lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun, asking, "Is North Korea our main enemy?" by saying, "It is clear that North Korea's military and regime are our adversaries since the Kim Dae-jung administration." He added, "There is no change in that thought," and said, "Not only North Korea, but anything that threatens our territory, territorial waters, and airspace is also our enemy."

Minister Ahn Gyu-baek, the nominee for the Ministry of National Defense, attends a personnel hearing at the National Defense Committee's meeting room in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 15th, responding to questions from lawmakers. /Courtesy of News1

Earlier, candidate Jeong stated during the National Assembly confirmation hearing the previous day in response to the question, "Do you agree that North Korea is the main enemy of the Republic of Korea?" that "(North Korea is not the main enemy) but a threat." He also affirmed a question asking, "Does that mean the hardline policies of the Lee Myung-bak administration contributed in part to the sinking of the Cheonan and the shelling of Yeonpyeong?" by replying, "Yes."

In response to the question, "Candidate Ahn, who pointed to the hardline policy of the Lee Myung-bak administration as a cause for the Cheonan sinking in 2010, who is the perpetrator of the sinking?" candidate Ahn replied, "It can be said to be the North Korean regime and military." Candidate Ahn continued, "North Korea must always be viewed with two faces," adding, "North Korea has targeted South Korea since the Korean War, so there is no change in the belief."

To the question from People Power Party lawmaker Lim Jong-deuk, who stated that "if North Korea is defined as both an enemy and a compatriot, there may be problems during response processes such as provocations," candidate Ahn replied, "Civilians in uniform must maintain a firm stance against enemies," further stating, "Ministers not in uniform must view it from two perspectives (as enemies and compatriots) to establish peace without war."

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