Ruling Party Responds To Opposition Charges

Speaking before the 220th extra session of the National Assembly as the ruling party's representative, Rhee In-je of the Millennium Democratic Party said, "The opposition should drop the notion of seizing power by shaking up the ruling party and trying to render it incapable."

"Show us a logical alternative to overcome the difficulties that face us today, and cooperate with us in a bi-partisan manner," Mr. Rhee said.

Mr. Rhee's remarks come a day after the opposition leader, Lee Hoi-chang, suggested that he would cooperate with the ruling camp if President Kim Dae-jung gives up his hard-line politics.

Mr. Lee dubbed the president's leadership and style of governance "politics of pride."

This remark, as well as blaming the crises the nation now faces on Mr. Kim's administration, drew the ire of the Blue House on Wednesday.

In a rare response to a remark made by an opposition leader on the floor of the National Assembly, presidential spokesman, Park Joon-young, said, "The opposition leader's numerous false claims could lead the public astray."

Political analysts said that the tit-for-tat interaction between the parties in the early days of the extra session does not bode well for the Assembly's operations. Mr. Rhee, a strong candidate for the party's ticket for the 2002 presidential elections, defended the ongoing tax audit into press companies. He said that the government does not have the power to muzzle the press, as charged by the opposition.

He said that the nation's economy is getting healthier and that the government has increased funding for education by 35 percent to improve the nation's schools.

He apologized for the debacle in the nation's healthcare system, but refused to end medical reforms.

Mr. Rhee also called on the government to cooperate with neighboring countries to "deal sternly" with Tokyo for approving a rightist middle school history textbook, which glosses over Japan's militaristic past.

by Lee Jung-min