The new head of South Korea’s ruling conservative party accused the country’s largest umbrella trade union of taking direct orders from North Korea, “declaring war” on what he called pro-DPRK groups operating in the ROK.

The accusation against the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) is the latest salvo in an increasingly fierce battle between the government and ruling party on one side and the union on the other. South Korea’s police and intelligence agencies have raided KCTU offices investigating links to Pyongyang that the union says are fabricated, accusing the Yoon administration of red-baiting.