MDP, ULD to work jointly for Kim Jong-Il visit

In the second joint meeting on state affairs on Tuesday, the ruling Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) and its coalition partner United Liberal Democrats (ULD) reached a nine-point agreement that includes joint efforts to facilitate a planned Seoul visit by North Korean Defense Commission Chairman Kim Jong-Il. In a joint press conference following the meeting, MDP chairman Kim Joong-Kwon and ULD acting chairman Kim Chong-Hoh said the agreement states that a stronger government is feasible on the basis of the firm alliance between the two parties. They further vowed to redouble efforts to build a more concrete and practical coalition partnership based on the pursuit of their mutual interests.

In the agreement, the two parties also decided to hold monthly joint policy consultation meetings and periodic talks between top party post holders and other key leaders. They agreed in principle that the National Assembly should be operated on the basis of accords between the ruling and opposition parties, but added that if partisan differences are not addressed, the principle of a majority rule should be applied. In order to enact reform-related laws and legislation aimed at boosting the people`s livelihood at an early date, the two parties plan to draw up draft bills in this regard in consultation with the government. The parties also agreed to make joint efforts to revise the National Assembly Law. The two-party meeting was attended by Prime Minister Lee Han-Dong and presidential chief of staff Han Kwang-Ok.

[Yonhap]