By Park Song-wu
Staff Reporter


Rep. Chun Jung-bae


Rep. Chun Jung-bae, floor leader of the ruling Uri Party, called for a second inter-Korean summit Tuesday as part of efforts to resolve the dispute over North Korea’s nuclear weapons programs.

In a speech to the National Assembly, Chun also expressed his intention to visit Pyongyang to seek a breakthrough in the stalled government-level talks, including the summit, between the two Koreas.

``I ask for President Roh Moo-hyun and North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-il, to have talks for the future of the Korean peninsula in a frank manner,’’ Chun said. ``The two Koreas should address all major issues, including the North’s nuclear programs.’’

He said the ruling party will actively explore ways to hold cross-border parliamentary meetings aimed at forming a basis for the summit talks. If realized, it would be the second meeting of its kind since former President Kim Dae-jung went to Pyongyang in 2000. At that time, the North’s leader promised to visit Seoul in an appropriate time.

But Rep. Kim Deog-ryong, floor leader of the opposition Grand National Party (GNP), rebuffed Chun’s speech as ``unrealistic.’’

``It seems unrealistic to consider the North’s nuclear problem as a bilateral issue between the two Koreas as it has already become a thorny international problem,’’ Kim said. ``Such an attempt could be perilous for the six-party talks and the relationship between South Korea and the United States.’’

After Chun’s presentation of policies to revive the economy, Kim said he was very disappointed with the ruling party, which he thinks lacks any vision for the Korean economy.

``We should like very much to have listened to the ruling party’s pledges for the Korean economy,’’ Kim said. ``But I still have doubts about the sincerity and feasibility of Chun’s promises.’’

Rep. Park Geun-hye, chairwoman of the GNP, also gave the cold shoulder to Chun by declining to accept his proposal for a round-table bipartisan meeting to discuss measures for the enhancement of the public’s livelihood.

``If they really want to talk about the economy, they should first withdraw their ill-fated attempt to pass so-called `reform bills’ that will only shake our state systems,’’ GNP spokeswoman Chun Yu-ok quoted Park as saying.

Chun used his speech to publicly accept the Constitutional Court’s ruling against the government’s capital relocation plan. ``We accept the court decision and acknowledge its validity,’’ he said.

But the ruling camp didn’t just give in as Chun also expressed his regret over the Court’s ruling against Roh’s signature pledge in the 2002 presidential election.

``It’s very regrettable that the capital relocation plan, one of the government’s major policies for the balanced development of the country, was forced to end,’’ Chun said. ``Many people say the court unexpectedly brought the customary constitution into play, damaging our legal system as well as the parliament’s legislation power.’’

The GNP urged the ruling camp to officially accept the court ruling and to apologize to the public for its unilateral move to relocate the capital out of Seoul.

Chun said the controversy over the court ruling could be seen as ``an evidence of social health.’’

The Constitutional Court said in its verdict on Thursday that Seoul’s status as the capital, though unwritten, has become part of the nation’s constitution ``by custom’’ and therefore a constitutional amendment is needed to change the location.

The government had earmarked the agricultural town of Yongi-Kongju in South Chungchong Province, 160 kilometers south of Seoul, as the venue for the new capital.

The relocation plan began with the GNP’s agreement late last year when a majority of lawmakers passed a relevant bill.

im@koreatimes.co.kr