Top Prosecutor's Resignation Asked

Officials from the minor opposition United Liberal Democrats called Monday for the voluntary resignation of the director-general of the National Intelligence Service, the Prosecutor General, and the special presidential adviser for reunification.

"Many senior prosecutors were involved in the Lee Yong-ho scandal and there are suspicions that Prosecutor-General Shin Seung-nam intentionally did not investigate the matter thoroughly," Kim Hak-won, the party's floor leader, said. "Since his younger brother is involved, Mr. Shin is not fit to lead the prosecution."

"Director General Shin Kuhn of the National Intelligence Service should be held responsible for the involvement of his subordinates in three major financial scandals last year and this year," Chung Woo-taik, the party's chief policymaker, said.

Chung Jin-seok, the ULD spokesman, also called for Lim Dong-won, the unification adviser to the president, to resign.

By attacking the three influential officials the minor opposition party effectively took sides with the main opposition Grand National Party, which had already called for their ouster.

Kim Jong-pil, the president of the ULD, reportedly told party officials Monday that the Kim Dae-jung administration never takes responsibility for anything, noting that the president never mentions the series of scandals surrounding his government.

"This is how an irresponsible politician ends his term," the ULD leader. Mr. Kim added that the intelligence director, Mr. Shin, and Mr. Lim, the former director of the intelligence service, cannot escape responsibility for the involvement of their subordinates in the scandals.

Political observers, however, said removal of the three officials from office by the National Assembly was not likely.

by Chun Young-gi