``GNP Must Withdraw Its Position for Rice Aid to NK``

The Grand National Party faces oppositions from in and outside of the party concerning the party`s new position to support 2 million soms ( equivalent of 5.12 U.S. bushels) to the North.

Rep. Kim Yong-Gap of GNP asserted yesterday, ``the decision destroyed the consistency of the party`s policy. The Party must withdraw immediately the betrayal act against the people.``

Rep. Kim argued in his press material that ``Betraying the people who are suffering from the economic hardships, all of a sudden, the party moves forward to the rice aid to the North amounted over 600 billion won, giving up the mutual principle in the Inter-Korean relationship. That is self-contradicting, just like `pouring fermented soybean paste into a cold noodle dish` Furthermore, the sudden decision of such sensitive issue seems like a `duplication of unilateral service to the North` .``

Byung Woong-Jeon, the spokesperson of the United Liberal Democrats, urged that ``the New Millennium Democratic Party that had asserted for the `unilateral service to the North` and the Grand National Party that, all of a sudden, insisted to support the North with 2 million soms of rice, should give up the partisan interests and make a prudent decision on the North Korean policies based on the consensus of the people and the National Assembly.``

Former President Kim Young-Sam criticized, ``that decision confuses the people. It is badly wrong.``

Mr. Kim invited Rep. Park Jong-Woong to this residence in Sangdo-dong to have a dinner. Rep. Park delivered Mr. Kim`s words, ``have not the opposition party criticized that the rice sent to the North was diverted into the military food?``

YS remarked in particular that ``if the opposition party loses its consistency in such an important matter, it will lose the support of the people.``

Song In-Soo issong@donga.com