Han Dong-hoon, interim leader of the ruling People Power Party, speaks during a meeting at the party's office in Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap

Han Dong-hoon, interim chief of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), condemned the main opposition party, Thursday, for joining forces with North Korean regime sympathizers and with other radical political orientations for the upcoming elections.

A day after the announcement that the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and minor left-wing parties as well as activists will launch a joint party next month, Han criticized Lee Jae-myung, its chairman, for helping the electoral revival of far-left politicians who formerly belonged to the United Progressive Party (UPP). The party was dissolved by the Constitutional Court in 2014 for plotting a pro-North Korea rebellion.

"As concerned, Chairman Lee is trying to save himself by helping the revival of those behind the unconstitutional, pro-North Korea UPP and by radicalizing the orthodox DPK," Han said at a meeting in the PPP's office in Seoul. "This is the reason why the PPP should fight with its utmost effort."

Rep. Park Hong-keun, left, of the Democratic Party of Korea, speaks to Yoon Hee-suk, a representative from the Progressive Party, during an event held for a new liberal coalition party at the National Assembly in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap

Forming that liberal coalition for the April 10 general elections was the DPK's strategy under the election law designed to benefit smaller parties. With the Progressive Party, led by some of founding members of the UPP, and the Basic Income Party, the main opposition party will launch a new party on March 3 and joint campaigns to galvanize their liberal base more effectively.

Under agreement, as many as 10 candidates from either of the far-left minor parties and a united group of activists are expected to win seats in the National Assembly. In the previous elections held in 2020, a similar "satellite party," led by the DPK, secured a total of 17 seats.

Moreover, the DPK agreed not to nominate its own candidate in Ulsan Buk District, one of the city's six constituencies, and will coalesce behind a Progressive Party candidate there as part of the deal. In protest of the decision, Lee Sang-heon, an incumbent DPK lawmaker in the area, said he would leave the party to launch his own election campaign if his request for a review of the decision is rejected.

Who will win the nomination by the coalition party is not determined yet. Conservatives are worried that some of leading figures behind radical anti-U.S. voices and conspiracy theories about the sinking of ROKS Cheonan and mad cow disease will get access to confidential data and exercise influence as Assembly members.

"The DPK has paved the way for pro-North Korea and anti-U.S. forces," Rep. Park Jeong-ha, chief spokesman for the PPP, said in a statement. "That shows that the DPK under Chairman Lee can join hands with anyone, including those who could threaten the national identity, as long as they would sit on his side."