[선데이뉴스신문=이종록 기자]  오늘 오전 최원일 前 천안함 함장님, 이성우 천안함 유족회장님을 만났습니다. 지난 12일 천안함 생존 용사들이 저를 포함한 여야 대선 후보들에게 천안함 사건에 대해 입장을 표명하라고 요청했는데, 형식적인 입장 표명보다 직접 뵙는 것이 좋겠다고 생각했다고 윤석열 국민의힘 대통령 후보는 오늘 11월 17일(수) 오전에 페이스북에 게재했다.

윤 후보는 이어 저의 입장은 분명합니다. 천안함 사건은 북한의 폭침에 의해 우리 해군 용사들이 희생된 사건입니다. 더 보탤 것도 없고 줄일 것도 없습니다. 국가의 품격은 과연 국가가 어떠한 삶을 기리고, 어떠한 역사를 기억하는가로 결정됩니다. 그런 점에서 천안함 사건을 어떻게 기억하고, 천안함 희생자들을 어떻게 기리는 가는 대한민국의 품격을 결정하는 중요한 요인이다고 강조했다.

아울러 문재인 대통령은 끝내 천안함 사건이 북한의 소행이라는 발언을 하지 않습니다. 잠수함 충돌설 같은 허무맹랑한 괴담 유포에 방송심의위원회는 문제될 것이 없다고 합니다. 이는 국가가 스스로를 부정하고 자해하는 행위입니다. 국가가 국민을 내 편, 네편으로 갈라 분열로 몰아가는 일입니다. 저는 국가를 위해 봉사하다가 희생된 분들을 제대로 기리는 일조차 정쟁의 대상으로 삼으면서 숭고한 희생을 외면하는 이러한 상황을 개탄합니다. 나라가 이래서는 안 된다고 설명했다.
 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
끝으로 해군 용사들의 희생을 생각하는 저의 말은 얼마든지 사라질 수 있습니다 하지만 천안함 사건으로 숨져 간 천안함 희생 용사들의 고귀한 희생은 결코 우리 기억 속에서, 대한민국 역사에서 사라질 수 없습니다. 천안함 전우들과 나라를 위해 목숨을 바친 선열들, 그리고 그 후손들께 머리 숙여 감사드린다고 덧붙였다.