DJP, Confrontational Situation over `Yim`

As President Kim Dae-Jung, in fact, rejects the United Liberal Democrats (ULD)` honorary chairperson Kim Jong-Pil`s demand for a voluntary resignation of Yim Dong-Won Unification Minister, by commanding the leaders of the Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) to have a `fair no-confidence vote` on the dismissal bill yesterday, DJP conflict now faces the risk of separation.

As high-ranking lawmaker of the MDP said that ``no-confidence vote on the dismissal bill may become an opportunity of reorganization of the political circle.`` some observers say that if the ruling party already assumes the break up of the DJP alliance.

However, since both the MDP and the ULD make clear that they will continue to dialogue based on the spirit of alliance until no-confidence vote takes place, negotiation through DJP meeting seems still possible.

According to the party floor leader Lee Sang-Soo, after having been reported by Lee and titular head Kim Joong-Kwon on the issue of Minister Yim`s dismissal bill, President Kim said that ``while the party should appropriately manage the issue through discussions, do it fairly.``

Floor leader Lee said that ``a predominant opinion in the party is that we should break through with the occasion of no-confidence vote, and should reconsider the party`s identity. This is a difficult situation in which the alliance can be broke up by an unavoidable choice.`` ``Someday, it will be evaluated as to who contributed for the unification and the people. Even if we lose the vote, approval of the dismissal bill will be recorded in history as anti-unification and anti-people incident.`` added Lee.

Park Joon-Young, chief staff of President, said that ``the Grand National Party`s proposal for dismissal is an attempt to turn the South-North relationship into the antagonistic relationship of the past by fundamentally shaking the sunshine policy. It is regretful that the ULD publicly demanded for resignation of Minister Yim.``

However, Lee Wan-Ku, floor leader of the ULD, said that ``if no-confidence vote takes place, ignoring the co-partner ULD`s request for the resignation, it will leave an unrecoverable scar between the two parties.`` He also said that ``honorary president Kim even used the word `sincerely demand`, If this is rejected, we cannot guarantee what we can do about the next situation.`` The ULD floor leader Lee Wan-Ku had a `GNP-ULD` meeting with the GNP floor leader Lee Jae-Oh, and discussed the bipartisan plan at the Assembly over the issue of the dismissal bill.

Kim Chang-Hyuk chang@donga.com