KBS Presidential Debate

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On the campaign trail, South Korea’s presidential hopefuls staged a heated debate on KBS TV on Wednesday. We begin with some of the highlights. Take a look.

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The five candidates - Moon Jae-in of the Democratic Party of Korea, Hong Jun-pyo of the Liberty Korea Party, Ahn Cheol-soo of the People's Party, Yoo Seung-min of the Bareun Party and Sim Sang-jung of the Justice Party - squared off at a televised debate. Yoo Seung-min and Moon Jae-in clashed over whether or not North Korea is the primary enemy of South Korea.

[Soundbite] Yoo Seung-min(Presidential Candidate, Bareun Party) : "Is North Korea our primary enemy?"

[Soundbite] Moon Jae-in(Presidential Candidate, Democratic Party of Korea) : "I believe that the president is not the one who is supposed to set such regulations regarding North Korea. If you become president, you will also have to tackle inter-Korean issues."

[Soundbite] Yoo Seung-min(Presidential Candidate, Bareun Party) : "How can a commander-in-chief not define North Korea as a primary enemy?"

The candidates also challenged Moon over the deployment of the U.S. missile defense system.

[Soundbite] Yoo Seung-min(Presidential Candidate, Bareun Party) : "If you become president, will you deploy THAAD or not?"

[Soundbite] Sim Sang-jeong(Presidential Candidate, Justice Party) : "I was confused to hear you call this a "strategic ambiguity."

[Soundbite] Moon Jae-in(Presidential Candidate, Democratic Party of Korea) : "Such important diplomatic and national security matters require strategic prudence."

Moon then switched the attention to Ahn Cheol-soo.

[Soundbite] Moon Jae-in(Presidential Candidate, Democratic Party of Korea) : "You say you're in favor of THAAD deployment, but your party is still opposed to it."

[Soundbite] Ahn Cheol-soo(Presidential Candidate, People's Party) : "My party follows its presidential candidate in everything."

Ahn lobbed aggressive questions regarding funding for North Korea and the "sunshine" policy.

[Soundbite] Hong Jun-pyo(Presidential Candidate, Libery Korea Party) : "If you take office, you will have to send dollars to the North, yes?"

[Soundbite] Yoo Seung-min(Presidential Candidate, Bareun Party) : "Was it right or wrong for the Kim Dae-jung administration to send money to the North?"

[Soundbite] Ahn Cheol-soo(Presidential Candidate, People's Party) : "There are merits and mistakes in all historic events. I will use the merits and learn from the past mistakes."

In response to the remark that if Ahn were elected president the actual leader would be his party chairman, Park Ji-won, Ahn brushed away the speculation by saying that he is the one who founded the People's Party.