Top MDP official calls for end to political strife

A leading member of the ruling Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) proposed that the opposition party leader visit North Korea for talks with National Defense Commission chairman Kim Jong-Il, pledging that his party and the government are willing to arrange the trip.

Rep. Hahn Hwa-Kap, member of the MDP`s Supreme Council, made the proposal in his keynote speech at a plenary session of the National Assembly. He also sought the cooperation of Rep. Lee Hoi-Chang, president of the opposition Grand National Party (GNP), in facilitating a successful visit to Seoul by the North Korean leader.

Hahn welcomed the opposition leader`s comment that party affiliation should not matter when it comes to livelihood issues and called for an end to political strife this year in favor of efforts to revive the economy. Hahn said that both the ruling and opposition parties must make sincere efforts to create regional harmony, noting that his party would study ways of making this a reality. "We hope the opposition party will join us in this endeavor,¡¯¡¯ he said.

Hahn went on to say that his party would push the government to uncover the root cause of the bankruptcies of Daewoo and other high-profile firms into which trillions won in public funds were injected. He added that those responsible for mismanagement would be held accountable and issued a warning of moral hazard problems within the government, financial institutions and enterprises.

He said his party would urge related authorities to determine whether the owners of insolvent companies had hidden assets.