`Replacement of Minister Lim Is Wrong` 7 Religious Group Leaders Stated

As the politic circle is experiencing a trouble on whether minister Lim will resign, religious leaders and unification organizations` leaders are announcing statements that say ``Demand for minister Lim`s resignation is inappropriate.``

During a press conference yesterday at the Cecil Restaurant in Jungdong, Seoul, leaders of seven major religious groups stated their opinion, which reiterated the demand for minister Lim to resign is wrong.

In particular, the leaders argued, ``It is absolutely wrong for the politicians to use the incident for a political purpose, which threatens the inter-Korea civilian exchange, and jeopardizes the reconciliation policy against North Korea.``

At the press conference, Kim Dong-Wan, director of the Korean Church Council, said, ``Since the responsibility for incident belongs to the leaders of the seven major religious groups who mediated the visit to North Korea, we will no longer sit down and watch the situation getting more complicated.`` He also asked an official face-to-face talk with the Grand National Party (GNP) and the United Liberal Democrats (ULD), which are demanding resignation of minister Lim.

Earlier on 27th, the `2001 National Public Event Headquarter to Fulfill the 6.15 Joint Declaration` held a press conference, and the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, the Citizen’s Coalition for Economic Justice, and the Unification Association are announcing statements as well.

Yoon Jong-Koo jkmas@donga.com