The Millennium Democratic Party was studying reports made in the pro North Korean Choson Sinbo, published in Japan, that claimed Grand National Party presidential candidate Lee Hoi-chang's father was pro-Japanese during the peninsula's occupation. MDP Spokesman Lee Nak-yun said that his party had been looking into allegations concerning Lee Hong-kyu prior to the newspaper story.
He added the MDP would not disregard the fact that it was published by a pro North Korea entity and would appraise the allegations coolly. Lee said it would also look at the motive behind North Korea's policy and find out the truth.
GNP Spokesman Nam Kyung-pil said the opposition suspected the MDP was joining with Pyongyang to political manipulate the presidential election. Nam continued the GNP had evidence that the MDP had received fabricated material from the North through an unnamed intelligence officer.
Secretary General Kim Young-il said it is a well known fact the North was engaged in operations to help the Kim Dae-jung government and "kill" Lee Hoi-chang. Kim commented that political parties should not get involved with North Korea's strategy.
In related news, Radio Pyongyang attacked the GNP for its statement calling for North Korean leader Kim Jong-il to visit after the presidential election, saying it was "anti-unification and unreasonable behavior that damaged North Korea's pride and self regard."
Lee Hoi-chang said on September 12 that he did not oppose a meeting between the leaders of the two Koreas, but if this occurred before the presidential election it could affect the outcome, and so should take place after it.