[Editorial] Something more worrisome than lawmaker Kim's statements

A long explanation is not necessary to see the profound impropriety of Grand National Party lawmaker Kim's statements referring to the ruling Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) as a ``second column'' of the Workers' Party of North Korea. It was not becoming of a member of parliament when he stated that he was merely quoting what a taxi driver said of the ruling party. That he made such an improper remark as a lawmaker is not only demeaning but also degrading to his dignity, behavioral norms, and qualifications.

What worries us more than Kim's unfit statement here is, in our view, the ruling party's excessive reaction to it. The MDP demanded the deletion of the remarks from the Hansard, Kim's personal apology and the Grand National Party's due disciplinary measures against him, including the deprivation of his party membership. The GNP countered the MDP's demands with the compromise proposal that the deletion of Kim's controversial statement from the Hansard may be left to the Speaker's discretion and that the GNP whip would express regrets on Kim's behalf.

Whatever the views lawmaker Kim or, for that matter, some of our social quarters have on inter-Korean affairs, Kim's statements at the parliament Tuesday were improper. So, we would repeat here, we have not the slightest intention of defending Kim's remark that caused the parliamentary standoff. Kim for his part must offer his personal apologies as his gesture to acknowledge his party leader Lee Hoi-Chang's expression of regret on his behalf.

Some GNP lawmakers, however, are known to have expressed their feelings of profound satisfaction as well as cheered over Kim's remarks. This is, in our view, not a proper attitude to take either, since their party leader expressed his regrets for the incident. Individuals can have varied ideas or thinking, but one must be very cautious and prudent in making remarks on such important matters as inter-Korean issues that will have great bearing on the nation's destiny.

At the same time, we think it rather excessive for the MDP to demand the expulsion of Kim from the GNP, no matter what kind of compromises are being negotiated between the two parties. Regretfully, however, some MDP lawmakers apparently stated at the party legislators' general meeting that they could not sit down to discuss the state affairs with someone who regarded them as enemy. Any unduly dichotomous logic and thinking to judge someone as either being an enemy or a friend should not prevail in our politics.

The real issue in resolving our so-called ``South-South'' internal conflict over South-North issues is our problem of overlooking the importance of the efforts to arrive at our national consensus. There is a varied range of visions on our inter-Korean affairs, from extreme rightist views to equally leftist views. What is important here is to make our efforts to integrate and transform such diverse views into the nation's productive energy and consensus. This task is incumbent upon our politics and national leaders. The debacle of Kim's controversial statements, too, must be resolved within such a forward-looking, political framework.

At any rate, lest the parliamentary deadlock should occur again due to this individual lawmaker's improper statement. Now, we are again experiencing an economic crisis, and thus the people are worrying about our uncertainties. There are also piles of parliamentary agenda waiting for parliamentary action, such as the impeachment motion against the Prosecutor-General and an inquiry into the public rescue funds. Under such circumstances, the National Assembly cannot afford to adjourn its plenary session even for one day.