Kim-Lee Meets Today

The high level conversation between President Kim Dae Jung and the opposition leader Lee Hoi Chang, initially scheduled for November 9 was held on November 10. It had been postponed stemming from a big difference in viewpoint between the ruling and opposition parties.
The parties were continuing to negotiate through the night yesterday, and in the morning they could reach an agreement to hold the meeting at 12;30 at Chong Wa Dae, the Blue House.
During the meeting, the two leaders will discuss various kinds of matters to find ways to overcome the ongoing economic crisis.
Park Jie Won, a Chung Wa Dae spokesman said yesterday, 'The ruling National Congress for New Politics (NCNP) wanted to stipulate that the opening day of the 'economy hearings' will be December 3 whereas the opposition Grand National Party (GNP) argued that the hearings should be 'after the budget bill passes the National Assembly'.' In the morning yesterday, the ruling and opposition parties did agree that once the meeting does take place, they will publicly issue a joint statement.
After the meeting was cancelled and members dispersed yesterday, Park Hong Yup, a spokesman of the NCNP said, 'The GNP brought up, again, issues that were already agreed upon.' However, Park Hi Tae, the Minority Leader of the GNP indicated, 'Whether or not the meeting will be held depends on the attitude of the ruling party. We want the meeting to be held without a joint statement announcement. If the statement is to be announced, it should contain controversial issues including the 'Panmunjom Shooting Plot', illegal electronic eavesdropping, and the use of torture by the intelligence agency.'