Kim Offers to Meet Leader of Opposition In Address Stressing Reform, Harmony

President Kim Dae-jung stressed "reform and harmony" on the 56th anniversary of Korean Liberation Day, proposing a one-on-one meeting with opposition leader Lee Hoi-chang.

"Political circles have to start resolving the problems from issues concerning the economy and unification," Mr. Kim said at the Independence Memorial Hall in Cheonan, South Chungchong province. "The public is thirsting for a politics of dialogue and harmony."

The solemn address lacked visions of the "era of the Korean Peninsula" that he limned last year after the June inter-Korean summit and the reunion of separated families.

He offered his regrets on the faltering economy, the pain suffered by the middle and lower classes in the past three years and the political rupture.

Mr. Kim signaled intentions for political reform and a stronger economy while continuing with economic reform. He promised to proceed with the sunshine policy toward North Korea and the prosecution of tax evasion cases against national media companies.

"Public mistrust in politics has reached a dangerous level," Mr. Kim said. "Both political camps should carry out drastic reform of the National Assembly, political parties and elections. If the current situation continues, everybody will lose."

An opposition spokesman, Kwon Chul-hyun, said that his party could meet with the president, if an agenda can be agreed by August 24.

Mr. Kim said that the four reforms of the corporate, financial, public and labor sectors would go on, but that the government would undertake parallel measures to expedite economic recovery.

He urged the United States to resume dialogue with North Korea, and North Korea to abide by the Joint Declaration signed with South Korea last year.

On Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visit to Yasukuni shrine, Mr. Kim said. "History does not only concern the past, but also things present and things yet to come. How can we make friends with people who try to forget and ignore the many pains they inflicted on us? How can we deal with them in the future with any degree of trust?"

by Kim Jin-kook