[Editorial] Is `Limited Leaders Meeting` Enough?

The ruling and opposition leaders meeting, which seemed hardly happen because of the exposure of the various suspicions on authoritative corruptions, was held all of a sudden yesterday morning. However, the agenda of the meeting limited to the war on terrorism is far from the expectation of the people to the leaders meeting with comprehensive agendas.

Of course, it is timely and appropriate that the two leaders agreed to cooperate, beyond the partisan interest, for the establishment of the measures for the public welfare, economy, and the national security and they expressed their strong and firm cooperation and the support for the U.S. war on terrorism, which is now the issue of the world. However, it is doubtful that the limited leaders meeting could help to comfort the anxious people and to recover the national administration.

The critical issues such as `Lee Yong-Ho Gate` tax probe investigation into the press, and the North Korean policies, were excluded from the agendas of this leaders meeting. I could be inevitable in such urgent situation as the U.S. anti-terrorist war. However, people might be wondering whether the leaders acknowledge that there are more urgent and important problems to deal with. To eradicate the suspicions, the two leaders should meet again as soon as possible. Even though the principle that the National Assembly is the center of National governance is fully recognized, the significance of the leaders meeting cannot be ignored in the Korean political situation. Furthermore, as revealed from the representative address to the National Assembly, the perspectives of the ruling and opposition parties are diametrically opposed. Those differences are easily led to the political conflicts unless the leaders of the two parties reach a compromise and agreement. That is the reason why they have to meet again.

First of all, they must reiterate a thorough investigation on the suspicions on authoritative corruption cases such as `Lee Yong-Ho Gate`. The press tax probe investigation and the North Korean policies that have sharply divided the public opinion also cannot be excluded from the discussion. If they exclude such agendas that seem to barely reach an agreement, the meeting would be useless. If they failed to reach an agreement, they must inform the point of disagreement to the people and try to collect the public opinion. In this matter, the ruling side in particular has to give up its self-complacency, that is, ``only we are righteous.``

The national sentiment is not lenient to the limited leaders meeting. Anti-terrorist measures must be prepared but the more urgent duty is to resolve the people`s suspicions about the national governance.