JP Calls for `Voluntary Resignation of Minister Yim`

As Kim Jong-Pil, honorary chairperson of the United Liberal Democrats (ULD), called for a voluntary resignation of Unification Minister Lim Dong-won yesterday, discord between President Kim Dae-Jung and honorary chairperson Kim is deepening over the issue of Minister Yim`s resignation. Therefore, `DJP coalition` is reaching a crucial phase.

Based on honorary chairperson Kim`s demand for a voluntary resignation of Minister Yim, the `resignation of Yim Dong-Won` is highly likely to be decided as the party`s position at a strategy meeting of the ULD party lawmakers today.

Although President Kim did not respond immediately, it seems that President will make a final decision at the DJP meeting after observing the result of a meeting.

Honorary chairperson Kim held a talk with the ULD`s key members at his Shindang-dong residence, and announced through Byun Woong-Jeon spokesperson that ``Unification Minister Yim should take responsibility for the incident related to the 8.15 Pyongyang Festival of Unification and voluntarily step down.`` According to spokesperson Byun, chairperson Kim added that ``it is desirable for Minister Yim to voluntarily step down for the strong coalition of the two parties, which is for the nation and the people.``

ULD Floor Leader Lee Wan-Ku said that he understood chairperson Kim had conveyed his thought that `it would be best way for Lim to voluntarily resign` to Han Kwang-Ok chief Cheong Wa Dae secretary, who visited Kim at home on Tuesday.

However, a high-raking official at Cheong Wa Dae said that ``honorary chairperson Kim made clear that `he would not break up the coalition, The coalition between the two ruling parties will not be broken up because of Minister Yim incident.``

Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) and the ULD had a debate over the issue of resignation of Minister Yim at a meeting of the three ruling coalition parties at the prime minister`s residence.

Cheong Wa Dae chief secretary Han called for cooperation saying that ``let`s demonstrate the truth of coalition. At the slightest slip, it can be perceived as a schism.`` However, ULD spokesperson Byun responded that ``it is time to make a decision. If Minister Yim does not step down, the situation may become more difficult.``

Floor leader Lee also called for a voluntary resignation prior to a no confidence vote at the Assembly, saying that ``the ULD is not confident of opposing the passing of the dismissal bill.``

Kim Yoon-Hwan, representative of the MDP, said that ``if anything goes wrong due to this, the alliance can be split up. DJP should meet together and resolve the issue promptly.``

In the midst of this, `Dawn 21`, a meeting of 11 newly-elected lawmakers of the MDP, decided to hold a meeting and to oppose the resignation of Minister Yim.

Rep. Kim Sung-Ho said that they agreed at a meeting that ``although behavior of some of the delegates to North was regretful, it is improper to dismiss Minister Yim by using the national issue as a means of political strife.``

Kim Chang-Hyuk chang@donga.com