JP Snub to Kim Brushed Aside

Kim Jong-pil, honorary president of the United Liberal Democrats, asked President Kim Dae-jung through an intermediary to fire Unification Minister Lim dong-won, a high-ranking official of the Millennium Democratic Party said Tuesday.

Mr. Kim was visited by Han Kwang-ok, presidential chief of staff, at his home Tuesday. The party official quoted Mr. Kim as saying, "Though the power to appoint and dismiss belongs to President, I think it is a problem that Mr. Lim initiates North Korea policy in this political situation."

Mr. Kim earlier snubbed the president by turning down a request for him to have dinner at the Blue House. Instead, the president dispatched Mr. Han to meet with the ULD leader.

Mr. Kim, known as "JP" in political circles, told reporters that he would not break off cooperation with the ruling Millennium Democratic Party. He said the question of the unification minister would be decided before the National Assembly reconvenes Monday.

In one of the allusions for which he is known, Mr. Kim said that while there may be many dilemmas in managing the nation, there is a "middle way."

A Millennium Democratic Party official said, "It is JP's belief that a partial reshuffle of the cabinet is necessary even though that is a power exclusively bestowed on the president." He said Mr. Kim has taken issue with the minister's actions before the recent controversy surrounding a festival in Pyongyang; he was unhappy when Mr. Lim played tour guide to a Pyongyang official when he was the director-general of the National Intelligence Service.

As the likelihood of a political summit waned, the Millennium Democratic Party is contemplating whether to throw a sop to its ULD partners by introducing as a package bills in which the ULD is particularly interested. Those include legislation to reduce the number of lawmakers needed to form a negotiating bloc in the Assembly, to punish money-laundering and to increase next year's budget.

The president reportedly wants to discuss the Mr. Lim's status personally with his coalition partner. The Pyongyang festival turned into an embarrassing coup for North Korean ideas about reunification.

The president has said on several occasions that he wants to retain Mr. Lim, who is a major architect of President Kim's "sunshine policy."

Meanwhile, the opposition Grand National Party saw some grumbling within its own ranks. Some more liberal lawmakers appeared to oppose the party's stance that Mr. Lim be fired.

The party's vice president, Lee Bu-young, and Representative Kim Won-wung said a proposed vote on whether to fire Mr. Lim should be dealt with carefully, considering the improving relations between the two Koreas. But Lee Jae-oh, the party's floor leader, said there could be no opposition within the party to its established position.

by Lee Yang-soo