Lee Won't Oppose Kim Jong-il Visit

Opposition leader Lee Hoi-chang said Tuesday that because he also desires a true peace on the Korean Peninsula, he will not oppose North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's visit to Seoul.

"But it will be hard to expect a true reconciliation between the two Koreas without North Korea's sincere apology for the Korean War, and the terrorist incidents (it committed)," the opposition Grand National Party president said, adding that he will watch carefully how Kim Jong-il addresses past grievances between the two Koreas.

Mr. Lee also warned of popular resistance should the Kim Dae-jung administration try to use improved inter-Korean relations to ensure the ruling party's hold on power.

Mr. Lee is the first of the three political party leaders to speak at the 218th extra session of the National Assembly, which opened Monday for a scheduled 24 days.

Despite the improvement in inter-Korean relations, the 1950-1953 Korean War, the 1983 Rangoon bombing which killed several South Korean officials and the 1987 bombing of a Korean Air flight are unresolved grievances between Seoul and Pyongyang.

On the domestic front, the opposition leader said that he will put "people first.'"

He called for the eradication of five ills － corruption, collusive ties between business and politics, political revenge, regional discrimination and election-rigging.

He also called for Assembly hearings on nominees to head the prosecution, police, the intelligence agency and the tax office.

by Kim Jin-kook