Assembly to Consider Dismissal of Ministers

The ruling and the opposition party agreed on Wednesday to report the Grand National Party's proposal to dismiss Unification Minister Lim Dong-won and Defense Minister Kim Dong-shin to a full session of the National Assembly on Thursday.

The two ministers have come under attack since North Korean ships began a series of intrusions into South Korean waters.

The parties also decided to put the bills settled at the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, which include an anti-corruption bill, to a vote at the full session.

But they failed to agree on the supplementary budget for this year, parliamentary investigation into the North Korean incursions and anti-money laundering act and putting a vote at the full session on the dismissal of two ministers.

Lee Sang-soo, the ruling Millennium Democratic Party's floor leader, said that the party could not agree to the parliamentary investigation when the dismissal of the ministers is being put to a vote.

But Lee Jae-oh, the opposition Grand National Party's floor leader, said that his party will not pass the budget if the investigation is not conducted.

If the parties fail to agree by Friday, the full session to be held Friday and Saturday will be meaningless.

by Lee Su-ho