Justice Party wants Kim Jong-un to address Assembly

The chief of the minor opposition Justice Party proposed Monday that the National Assembly push for a parliamentary address by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un if he travels to Seoul later this year.

Lee Jeong-mi, the party’s chairwoman, also suggested that the two Koreas jointly ratify the April summit agreement later this year after a proposed inter-Korean parliamentary meeting.

“Let’s push for Chairman Kim’s parliamentary speech when he visits Seoul,” Lee said in a speech at the assembly.

“I strongly ask the parliamentary speaker and the government to seek Kim’s address to reciprocate North Korea’s boldness to introduce President Moon Jae-in in front of Pyongyang citizens,” she said, referring to Moon’s first-ever speech to North Koreans at the close of the mass games last month.

Moon visited Pyongyang on Sept. 18-20 for his third summit with the North’s leader following summits in April and May.

In the Pyongyang summit agreement, Kim agreed to visit Seoul “at an early date,” which Moon says means a trip to the South within this year.

Lee suggested that South and North Korea jointly ratify the April summit agreement clinched at the truce village of Panmunjom after their parliaments hold their first-ever meeting later this year.

Last month, the government submitted a proposal for parliamentary ratification of the Panmunjom Declaration, but rival parties agreed to defer the deliberation until after the Pyongyang summit.

“If the Koreas’ parliaments ratify the summit deal together after their parliamentary meeting, the legislative bodies could help promote peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula,” Lee said.

National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang earlier proposed the two Koreas’ parliaments meet within this year.

North Korea expressed its consent to his offer “in principle.”

Lee proposed an inter-Korean parliamentary meeting to be attended by the same number of lawmakers from both sides in November, saying it will help appeal for global support for the inter-Korean summit agreements made in April and September.

Yonhap