'Unification' Source of Disharmony

The National Assembly's interpellation session was delayed Thursday, for the second consecutive day, held up again by opposition legislators who have raised questions about a controversial statement made by President Kim Dae-jung.

Representative Ahn Taek-soo of the Grand National Party, who Wednesday called on Mr. Kim to resign for having called the 1950-1953 Korean War an "attempt at unification" again said he would not apologize, as demanded by the ruling Millennium Democratic Party. The dispute blocked interpellations on unification, foreign affairs and national security.

The controversy was exacerbated by a statement another opposition lawmaker had planned to make, labeling the Kim Dae-jung administration as pro-Pyongyang.

"The swearing in of the Kim Dae-jung administration marked more than just a shift of power, it marked the ceding of the government to a pro-North Korean force," Representative Kim Yong-kap said.

"The Kim Dae-jung administration, working from its pro-North Korea, leftist standpoint, is helping to consolidate the rule of 'Dear Leader Kim Jong-il,'" the opposition legislator continued.

The ruling party immediately called a party council meeting, denouncing the opposition representative. "He is like a cancer for our nation," Representative Choo Mi-ae of the ruling party said.

The Millennium Democrats attacked the opposition leader, Lee Hoi-chang. "Lee Hoi-chang's father supported the Japanese during colonial rule," Representative Sul Hoon said. "We should call for his resignation," Representative Lee Jae-joung added.

Mr. Kim, who has been labeled a "red baiter" within the opposition party, said he made the remark to "clarify the ruling administration's ideological identity," and added that he was willing to change some parts of his interpellation questionnaire.

Mr. Ahn, on the other hand, stood firm. "I made the remark out of a sense of duty to our country," he said. "Should the party leadership ask me to apologize, I will not."

However, the opposition floor leader, Lee Jae-oh, reportedly approached the ruling party with the idea that the opposition apologize on behalf of Mr. Ahn. He also agreed to eliminate parts of Mr. Ahn's remarks from National Assembly records. The ruling party had yet to accept.

by Lee Sang-il