Cabinet System Debate Suspended Until August

President Kim Dae Jung and Prime Minister Kim Jong Pil yesterday agreed to suspend debate on the introduction of the cabinet system until the end of August.
In an exclusive meeting at Chong Wa Dae, both the president and prime minister agreed to stop debate on the proposed cabinet system or the merging of their parties, after confirming again the validity of the NCNP and ULD's pre-election agreement on introducing a parliamentary cabinet system.
Prime Minister Kim, the ULD leader, will assemble ULD members early next week to emphasize the prohibition of any cabinet system debate.
After their exclusive meeting, President Kim and Prime Minister Kim announced the agreement at a breakfast meeting with Kim Young Bae, acting-president of the NCNP, and Park Tae Jun, ULD party president, Chong Wa Dae spokesman Park Jie Won stated.
At the breakfast meeting President Kim stated, 'The two parties should talk about the cabinet system at a more timely occasion. To debate the cabinet system prematurely will only harm the two parties' cooperation.'
Prime Minister Kim said, 'The agreement on the cabinet system is still valid, but we should not talk about this until August so we can concentrate on political reform.'
At the meeting Kim Young Bae, who the day before had publicly spoken on the merging of the parties, apologized to the prime minister for his comment.
Prime Minister Kim responded by saying, 'Both parties should be careful in their speech not to break inter-party cooperation.'
President Kim also added, 'We have to strengthen the cooperation of the parties to break through the crises (the defeated motion to arrest an opposition lawmaker on April 7) and convert it into an opportunity.'
Jooan Kang : jooan@joongang.co.kr