National Intelligence Service Deputy Director to Be Indicted

Independent Counsel Song Doo-hwan, who is investigating Kim Dae Jung`s alleged secret checkbook diplomacy with Kim Jong Il, announced yesterday that it would summon former Hyundai Securities chairman Lee Ik-chi on Thursday for questioning. Lee is suspected of having had a series of preliminary meetings with the North for the North-South summit which took place in June of 2000.

If something suspicious comes up during the questioning, former Chief of Staff Park Ji-won will also summoned near the end of this week.

The Independent Counsel`s Office yesterday summoned Kim Bo-hyun, the former National Intelligence Service deputy director, who is suspected of having led preliminary talks for the wiring and the summit. The Office questioned him to learn what role he played in connection with the preliminary talks held in March and April of 2000 for the summit between Kim Dae Jung and Kim Jong Il. Lee was also suspected of making a secret agreement with the North Korean regime to facilitate summit preparations in return for economic aid from the South.

A source familiar with the case said, "We got a lot of things to ask him about. We emptied our schedule. We have no other suspect to question until Wednesday," indicating that a strong interrogation would be conducted on him.

Independent Counsel Song reportedly plans to indict Kim since it was established that he directly was involved in exchange of the loan and wiring of the exchanged money.

The Independent Counsel, however, is considering various options for Kim`s prosecution. Kim is still in charge of all the talks with the isolated regime in Pyongyang. Thus, the Office is trying to come up with a method that allows the Counsel to prosecute him, and not to damage talks.

In the meanwhile, the Office will reportedly formally charge former Korea Industrial Bank president Lee Keun-young on embezzlement charges.

Along with Lee, Independent Counsel Song may also indict former vice president of the bank, Park Sang-bae and former presidential economic aide Lee Kee-ho, who pressured the bank into offering an illegal loan to Hyundai.

leon@donga.com jarrett@donga.com