Kim meets with opposition leader today

President Kim Dae-Jung and main opposition Grand National Party (GNP) leader Lee Hoi-Chang will hold a bipartisan political summit Thursday afternoon at Cheong Wa Dae to discuss, among other things, matters related to the sagging economy and the inter-party controversy over the ruling party's "lending" of three lawmakers to its former coalition partner, the United Liberal Democrats (ULD).

At the meeting, GNP chairman Lee is expected to contend that the current economic turmoil was generated by President Kim's failure to recognize existing realities, misguided policy-making on the part of the ruling camp, moral hazard problems and various irregularities.

Likely claiming that the decision of the ruling Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) to lend three lawmakers to the ULD is an affront to democratic principles, the GNP leader is also expected to demand President Kim to return the MDP legislators to their original party, GNP spsokesman Kwon Chul-Hyeon said.

To this, Kim is likely to respond that the changes in the lawmakers' party affiliations was not desirable but that it was essential if the MDP was to implement its pre-election pledges to the ULD and bring about political stability. The President is also expected to ask for Lee's understanding and cooperation in riding out the current economic difficulties.

The GNP leader agreed to meet with Kim following a joint meeting of party lawmakers and chairmen of the party's local chapters and subsequent talks with the party's three key post holders.

Kwon disclosed that Lee's compliance with the proposed bipartisan summit was made in the judgment that the talks were essential in order to address the people's hardships and revive the tottering economy.

Some party members were opposed to the Cheong Wa Dae meeting, noting that it would only provide an opportunity for Kim to excuse the MDP for lending its lawmakers to the ULD.

The two leaders decided not to hold a pre-meeting dinner that would also have been attended by their wives.