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South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon responds to questions from the Liberty Korea Party at the National Assembly on Oct. 1. (Kim Gyoung-ho, staff photographer)
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Opposition party hovers around maintaining NLL and costs of reunification
Following the third inter-Korean summit in Pyongyang, the National Assembly held its first round of discussions regarding the establishment of peace on the Korean Peninsula. Suggested measures included a speech by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to the National Assembly and the simultaneous ratification of the April 27 Panmunjom Declaration, among others. A request for Kim Jong-un to address the National Assembly” During a session of the National Assembly Foreign Affairs, Unification, and Security Committee on Oct.1, Rep. Ha Tae-kyung, a member of the leadership council of the Bareun Mirae party, stated, “Chairman Kim said that he would come to Seoul, [but instead] we have to ask to him to come. He can come here and address our National Assembly, and we must also request that the leader of our largest opposition party be allowed to speak at the Supreme People’s Assembly in North Korea.” In addition, Rep. Ha asked Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon what he thought of Ha’s opinion that “South Korean citizens should be allowed to freely access North Korean media such as Rodong Shinmun and North Korean Central TV.” Prime Minister Lee replied, “There will be a number of considerations and there will come a point when such discussion is possible.” Rep. Lee Jeong-mi, leader of the Justice Party, suggested during a general session of the National Assembly as a representative of her party that Kim speak before the National Assembly during a reciprocal visit to Seoul. She emphasized, “If the supreme leader of North Korea speaks for the first time in history at the National Assembly, more than anything, that will be a strong declaration for denuclearization and a great step for peace on the Korean Peninsula.” Lee went on to suggest a simultaneous ratification of the Panmunjom Declaration by the South and North Korean congresses just after the inter-parliamentary meeting. She also proposed holding a substantive meeting in November in South Korea, in which an equal number of representatives from both sides would call on the international community to support the Panmunjom and Pyongyang Declarations.” “가능한 한 대화하고 설득해서 여야가 합의해서 국회 차원에서 ‘합의’ 처리하는 게 중요하다”고 밝혔다. Responding to the deadlock over ratification of the Panmunjeom Declaration in the National Assembly, Democratic Party leader Lee Hae-chan said, “It is important to hold discussions and persuade as much as possible so that the ruling and opposition parties reach a consensus within the National Assembly.” Picking up on the Justice Party leader’s proposal for the simultaneous ratification of a South-North Congress, Rep. Lee said, “I will go to this [upcoming South-North joint events scheduled for Oct. 4] and speak with Kim Yong-nam [President of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly], but we have to consider what form will be legally possible.” Liberty Korea Party laments “giving up the NLL” and cost of reunification In contrast, the Liberty Korea Party (LKP) continued with its “security offensive” during the committee meeting. Speaking critically about the Panmunjom Declaration and related issues, Rep. Cheong Yang-seog stated, “The legal basis for ratification in the National Assembly is that when a financial burden is placed on the Korean people, the National Assembly has to deliberate and agree on it, but there is no financial estimate contained in the government’s motion to request the ratification of the Panmunjom Declaration.” The administration of President Moon Jae-in included 2019 costs of the Panmunjom Declaration when it submitted its motion for the declaration’s ratification in the National Assembly, but the LKP has based its objections on the insistence that the entire cost of the implementation of all projects covered by the declaration be submitted rather than a yearly estimate. “In the process of the denuclearization talks with North Korea, we need explanations and the concerned voices from the opposition must be heard,” said Rep. Cheong, who suggested that Moon meet regularly with opposition leaders. The Pyongyang Declaration from the third inter-Korean summit this year included discussion of the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the West Sea, and lawmaker Yoo Ki-june continued the LKP’s criticism by questioning Prime Minister Lee about the issue, saying, “There will be the establishment of a peace zone that runs 50km north of the NLL and 85km south of it, but realistically, isn’t this just giving up the NLL?” “If we neutralize the NLL, then the residents of the five West Sea islands will be stuck,” said the prime minister, in response. “We are firmly maintaining the NLL.” By Kim Kyu-nam and Jung Yu-gyung, staff reporters Please direct comments or questions to [english@hani.co.kr]
