GNP Leader Park`s Opinion on “Anti-National” in National Security Law

“One of the biggest problems concerning the National Security Law is Article 2, the definition of anti-State groups, and I think that if it is not hindered, we can remove the ‘unjustified title of the government’ clause in Article 2 while maintaining the framework of the anti-national reference,” said Grand National Party Chairwoman Park Geun-hye.

“We can change the appellation of the National Security Law, assuming that there is no problem with securing our national security system,” stated Chairwoman Park Geun-hye in an interview with Dong-A Ilbo on September 16.

However, the Uri Party played down the idea of changing the “anti-State groups” reference to “semi-enemy countries,” saying, “We don’t think it is appropriate.”

This is the first time Park has mentioned the possibility of modifying some parts of Article 2 and altering its legal language. Hereafter, negotiations related to the National Security Law between ruling and opposition parties are expected to be more active. It appears that the fundamental reasons for applying the designation of “anti-State groups” to North and pro-north activists will be much stricter if the clause of “claiming the title to the government” of Article 2 is deleted.

The majority of Uri Party members support the idea of eliminating Article 2 entirely, although some agree with the partial revision of the article suggested by Park. The Grand National Party is expected to confirm the final party opinion on the revision of the National Security Law within the week.

There also has been a hint of possible discussion concerning the intention to review other issues such as inspiration, laudation, and non-notification crimes.

Park was reserved about whether she would talk with President Roh Moo-Hyun, saying, “It is unnecessary to meet him unless we have a heart-to-heart talk.”

Concerning the assertion that Roh’s mention of the elimination of the National Security Law is a sort of land readjustment for the South-North Summit talks, Park said, “I don’t want to believe it, and President Roh is not entitled to be president if he insists on doing so at the risk of a threat to our regime.”

Yeon-Wook Jung jyw11@donga.com