Opposition Leader Reacts Calmly to Kim Jong-il's Invitation

Lee Hoi-chang, president of the opposition Grand National Party (GNP), reacted calmly to a report that Kim Jong-il has expressed his interest in inviting him to North Korea. Lee, responding to the news, said, "I have yet to receive an invitation, either official or unofficial, from Kim Jong-il and I feel no need to respond to the rumored offer at this point."

According to GNP spokesperson Kwon Chul-hyeon, Lee expressed this view when he learned that Kim Jong-il had disclosed his interest in inviting Lee to visiting media heads from South Korea. A senior GNP official repeated that if Kim Jong-il is truly interested in inviting Lee, he should send a formal invitation according to protocol. He added that the invitation would not be accepted if Lee was invited as part of a delegation of civic groups or as a guest during North Korea's propaganda-filled Workers Party festivities.

by Chun Young-gi