Parties spar over allegations

The two major political parties lashed out at each other on Monday, trading shots over the corruption charges against President Kim Dae-jung's sons.

During a National Assembly session to question the government on a broad range of issues, Maeng Hyung-kyu, a Grand National Party assemblymen said, "President Kim's sons and relatives monopolized state affairs and took charge of government bodies as if they were private property." Mr. Maeng called for the introduction of an independent counsel and parliamentary hearings.

Mr. Maeng also raised allegations that Kwon Roh-kap, a former Millennium Democratic Party adviser, played a key role the selection of engines made by General Electric for Korea's next generation jet fighter, the F-15K. Choi Gyu-seon, a businessman held on a charge of bribery, and Kim Hong-gul, the president's youngest son, who is held on graft charges, also influenced the selection, according to Mr. Maeng. "Mr. Choi boasted that he helped Mr. Kwon's son land a position with GE," Mr. Maeng said.

The Millennium Democrats, the governing party, joined the opposition in attacking the government. "The serious corruption involving the president's relatives likely stems from presidential aides and officials of audit bodies who were derelict in their duties," said Chun Jung-bae, a MDP lawmaker.

Mr. Chun also attacked the GNP presidential candidate, Lee Hoi-chang, saying that allegations that Mr. Lee's son dodged the draft should be investigated. He also accused the GNP candidate of collaborating with Lee Suk-hee, a former deputy administrator of the National Tax Service who allegedly raised illegal campaign funds for the GNP leader during the 1997 presidential election. The former tax official's extradition hearing is pending in an U.S. court.

Separately, Defense Minister Lee Jun said, "The government will acknowledge the Northern Limit Line as equivalent to the demarcation line on the land and will defend it to the last."

Jeong Se-hyun, minister of unification, said the government is not considering further support to North Korea at present.

by Lee Sang-il, Ko Jung-ae