Kim Apologizes to Public

President Kim Dae-jung apologized to the public Thursday for the financial scandal associated with Lee Yong-ho, president of G&G group, and said to involve high-ranking political and government officials.

"I will deal with this according to the facts pertaining to the case," Mr. Kim said.

But he criticized what he called an attempt by the opposition to tarnish ruling-party officials by coyly mentioning their initials.

The president spoke with the Inchon-based Kyung-in Broadcasting, which was marking its fifth anniversary. The wide-ranging interview covered several points.

Mr. Kim said he knew for certain that the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-il, would visit Seoul. "I can not say when it will take place, but he will make his return visit to Seoul," the president said.

He also said that he had no plans to dispatch combat troops to aid the U.S. attack against terrorism. He added, "Our plans to lend about 450 field hospital and transport unit personnel are being held up as the United State has not issued a formal request."

And for the first time, Mr. Kim gave a time range for when he would nominate the ruling party's candidate for the December 2002 presidential election.

"I will decide on fielding the party's candidate after gathering the party members' opinions after the National Asembly's regular session ends its run," Mr. Kim said. The regular session that began on Sept. 3 will run for 100 days, until Dec. 12.

A Blue House aide expanded on the president's comment.

"We can interpret that to mean that the president and the ruling party will set its strategy by the end of the year," the official said.

Political pundits said that such a timetable could mean early manifestation of presidential candidates, compared to previous elections. The Roh Tae-woo administration fielded its candidate in May for the December 1992 election, and Kim Young-sam's proposed successor was named in July for the December 1997 election.

by Kim Jin-kook