National Assembly Dances to Kim Jong-pil's Tune

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National Assembly Dances to Kim Jong-pil's Tune

If you were to look at how the National Assembly was being run, you might notice that in some ways the schedule of the National Assembly is being dictated by Kim Jong-pil (JP), the honorary chairman of United Liberal Party.

In order for JP to play golf in Japan at 9:30 in the morning on August 1, a lot of things at the National Assembly had to happen at the right time on July 31.

On July 31, there was some confusion on the opening time of the National Assembly due to the need to pass the recently revised pharmaceutical law. JP had returned to Seoul to attend the 2 p.m. National Assembly session, but showed up 50 minutes late at 2:50 p.m. In that time Chung Kyun, the floor leader of the ruling Millenniume Democratic Party, had postponed the meeting until 6 p.m. because had wanted all the needed seats to pass the pharmaceutical law filled.

On the request of Kim Jong-ho, the acting leader of the ULD, the meeting was advanced 30 minutes, and so the National Assembly session started at 5:30 p.m.instead.

Meanwhile, JP, who reached the conference hall late at 5:54 p.m., realized that the needed number of seats had been filled without him and left for Japan at 6:07 p.m., just 13 minutes after showing up.

That night, JP departed from Kimpo Airport at 6:40 p.m. on the last flight and arrived in Karuizawa, Japan at 12 p.m. after a two and a half hour drive from Naria Airport.

Kim Jong-pil(JP) played his round of golf with former Japanese prime minister Yasuhiro Nakasone the next day (August 1) at 9:30 a.m.

"It wasn't easy keeping his promise to meet with Nakasone with their packed schedules," explained one of JP's aides. The first flight that left from Seoul to Tokyo was at 9:20 a.m. leaving JP no choice but to take the night flight.

Kim Jong-ho explained, "JP did what he had to do. The round of golf was part of his official schedule, as well."






by Kim Jung-ha

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