Political parties declare no more disputes over NLL

Both ruling and opposition party leaders declared on Friday that they would stop political disputes over the northern limited line (NLL) off the west coast and the missing of the transcript of the 2007 inter-Korean summit, respectively. The pro-Roh (former President Roh Moo-hyun) including Rep. Moon Jae-in of the main opposition Democratic Party, however, insists on the disclosure of the transcript before and after the summit, saying, “We should find the truth why they give up strife over the NLL.” In this context, the controversy is likely here to stay for the time being. How the divided opposition party would hammer out agreement and how the ruling Saenuri Party would respond to the pro-Roh faction will apparently decide the end of the strife.

Jun Byung-hun, the Democratic Party’s floor leader, visited the Naval Second Fleet in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, on the 60th anniversary of the armistice treaty on Friday morning, and said, “Let’s declare the permanent end of the NLL disputes. Let’s stop foolish acts that disintegrate the public opinion and shake the NLL.”

Choi Kyung-hwan, the ruling Saenuri Party’s floor leader held a press conference Friday afternoon and said, “From now on, the Saenuri Party will stop any political strife over the NLL. We will leave the issue to prosecutors for investigation and rush to the people’s bread and butter issues.”

Choi said over the transcript issue, “Unless there is any guarantee that does not intensify political fights, it is meaningless to access attachments (before and after the summit stored in the National Assembly) and recorded tapes (of the summit stored by the National Intelligence Service). It means it cannot give indulgence to the pro-Roh camp by accessing attachments at a time when it is suspected that two transcripts on the NLL disappeared and the opposition party dislikes the disclosure of recorded tapes.”

A political strife is expected to continue over prosecutors’ investigation of the missing transcripts. While Choi urged for a “strict and fast investigation” in the meeting, Jun said, “Both the missing transcripts and illegal leaks should be investigated by independent investigators.” Rep. Park Jie-won wrote on Twitter, “(The Saenuri Party’s declaration on the end of the political strife) is like carrying fire in one hand and water in the other. If it is out of sincerity, it should drop prosecution first.”