20 September 2017

News Story: Presidential office issues warning against defense minister over 'inappropriate' remarks

SEOUL, Sept. 19 (Yonhap) -- The presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said Tuesday it has issued a "stern warning" to Defense Minister Song Young-moo for his "inappropriate and uncoordinated" remarks regarding President Moon Jae-in's dispute-prone security adviser.

During a parliamentary session Monday, Song said it is "deplorable" that Moon Chung-in, the adviser, is making controversial remarks as a scholar, which are deemed unfit for a presidential security adviser.

The adviser has courted controversies for his "personal" ideas, including his proposal for scaling back South Korea-U.S. military drills in exchange for North Korea's freeze on its nuclear program -- a view seen at odds with Washington.

"(Cheong Wa Dae) has issued a stern warning to him, citing the inappropriate expression as a Cabinet member and uncoordinated remarks that have caused policy confusion," Yoon Young-chan, the chief presidential press secretary, said in a text message to reporters.

Read the full story at YonhapNews