Grand National Party presidential candidate Lee Hoi-chang told the Senior Reporters Club, Tuesday, that clause two of the June 15 2000 Joint Declaration made by President Kim Dae-jung and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il needed to be reviewed as many South Koreans disagreed with it. Clause two states " Acknowledging that there are common elements in the South's proposal for a confederation and the North's proposal for a federation of lower stage as the formulae for achieving reunification, the South and the North agreed to promote reunification in that direction." Lee said that President Kim Dae-jung assertion that North Korea's public comments that Seoul had agreed to go along with its formula was merely for appearance, needed to be looked at, and the true nature of Pyongyang's intentions should be divined.
He continued it was a tragedy for the country that every five years there was a repetition of corruption scandals involving presidential families and called for an independent counsel investigation. Lee said the involvement of all President Kim's children in influence building indicate a collapse in the basic fabric of society.
Commenting on Keumgang Mountain tourism, he noted that it should only be continued if a profitable land route was established, not just with a sea route. Lee called for a joint inspection of the Keumgangsan Dam and an apology from Kim Jong Il for past events.
(Hong Seok-joon, udo@chosun.com)
