Opposition Leader Reopens Debate on National Security Law

Opposition leader Lee Hoi-chang, speaking for the first time on the revision of the draconian National Security Law (NSL) September 5, said that the government should come up with a due measure to allow all Korean people to travel freely overland.

"We need to research measures to allow not only divided families but all southern people to visit the North," President Lee of the Grand National Party said, making a special appearance at Yonsei University's Graduate School of Public Relations.

"And not only southerners - we should demand the North to allow North Koreans to travel freely to the South as well," Lee said as he reviewed the 'Progress and Challenges of Post-June 15 Summit Inter-Korean Relations.'

With these latest remarks, he has in effect shifted from his earlier stance of opposing the repeal of the National Security Law. He had previously refrained from commenting on whether the opposition camp agreed to the revision of the National Security Law.

His aides said, "by 'necessary measures' President Lee is referring to the revision of the NSL. He will push forward the [revision] issue at the upcoming plenary session of the National Assembly."

His change of stance is expected to kick-start discussions on revising the controversial law in the upcoming plenary session of the National Assembly, planned for sometime next month, political analysts said.

"The early morning light of reunification will dawn on the Korean Peninsula when the North Korean people are allowed to freely travel to the South," Lee said.

His remarks amount to a progressive departure from his earlier rhetoric. Lee had been a staunch proponent of peace, emphasizing that peace is more important that reunification. However, his latest remarks make it inevitable for an amendment of Article 6 of the controversial law which posits North Korea as an anti-state entity. Koreans from either side discovered infiltrating or escaping to the other are punishable according to Article 6 of the controversial law.

Aware of the barrage of criticism he has weathered that he was inhibiting President Kim Dae-jung's efforts at rapprochement with the North, he praised the president's recent efforts, saying "I laud the Kim Dae-jung administration's efforts toward reconciliation and cooperation with the North."

Insiders said that Lee would present his vision of reunification at the upcoming regular session of the National Assembly.

During his presentation, President Lee also put forth his ideas on easing military tension on the Korean Peninsula. He called for small-scale, operational measures to "control" the arms race, such establishing cross-border alerts in case of troop movements, exchange of information on military data and exchange of military personnel.

by Choi Sang-yeon