Parliamentary interpellation on diplomacy

During the interpellation of the administration at the National Assembly plenary session on July 12, lawmakers questioned about the unification formula agreed at the inter-Korean summit and policy measures to the promote South-North exchange and cooperation, diplomacy toward the four major powers surrounding the Korean peninsula, and negotiations on the revision of the U. S. Status of Forces Agreement(SOFA).

Reps. Park Kwan-Yong and Kim Ki-Choon of the main opposition Grand National Party, expressing doubt about Pyongyang`s will of opening its door, and contended that the Kim Dae-Jung government has taken too weak need posture toward the North. The GNP lawmakers also asked the government to clarify its stance toward Pyongyang`s slandering to the GNP leader, Lee Hoi-Chang.

On the other hand, Reps Lee Hae-Chan and Yim Chae-Jung of the ruling Millennium

Democratic Party proposed the government to set up a mechanism for expanding inter-Korean economic cooperations, rearrange institutions in this regard, and jointly promote joint projects with Pyongyang. They also called for South-North disarmament talks and a joint utilization of the inter-border Demilitarized Zone.

With regard to the proposed negotiations for the SOFA revision, both the ruling and opposition legislators shared the view that the present "unequal" pact should be changed to an equal one.

In reply to the lawmakers` questioning, Prime Minister Lee Han-dong said, referring to the North Korean Central News Agency`s censure against the GNP president by dubbing his parliamentary remarks as "reckless, that the agency`s statement itself is the "profoundly reckless remarks." The premier added that the government will strongly demand Pyongyang to restrain any improper remarks or activities against the opposition leader and exert effort to prevent similar mishaps.

Prime Minister Lee went on to say that the government will revamp hostile words

against the North, such as "puppet regime" or the "unrecovered territory." He said that it is not desirable to discuss as far as the "abolition" of the National Security Law but that his government will consider "revision" of the law in view of changes in the inter-Korean relations.

Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs-Trade Minister Lee Joung-Binn said in reference to the SOFA revision, that there is a gap in the positions of Seoul and Washington, as the U. S. draft proposal omitted clauses regarding such problems as environment and quarantine problems, except for court jurisdiction. But the minister said that Korea`s counter-proposal has been almost complete in consultation through consultations with the ministries concerned.

National Defense Minister Cho Sung-Dae said that the government plans to propose to

the North the joint development of the Yimjin River bedside and aid of medicine for malaria to the North at the forthcoming inter-Korean high-level talks.

The minister stated that the government is not in a position to close down the U. S. military bombing drill range at Maehyang-ri, as there is no appropriate alternative place.

However, he said that the government will do best to calm down grievances of the residents there so as to minimize damage to them by taking such remedial steps as the

noise prevention.