Ruling party chief urges N. Korea to give up military adventurism

By Tony Chang
SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- The head of the ruling party on Tuesday warned that
North Korea would gain nothing from its "military adventurism," referring to days
of artillery fire by the communist state along the western sea border last week.
"We must make North Korea realize that it cannot win anything from its military
adventurism, such as firing artillery shells towards the Northern Limit Line
(NLL)," Chung Mong-joon, head of the ruling Grand National Party (GNP), said in
an address to the parliament's plenary session.
Last week, North Korea fired hundreds of artillery shells into waters just north
of the NLL over a period of three days beginning on Wednesday, prompting the
South to respond with a warning shot on the first day and verbal warnings
thereafter.
"An improvement in inter-Korean relations is difficult to expect unless North
Korea changes. We must make the North realize that nothing can be achieved unless
it changes," Chung said, calling for the North to implement a more pro-economic
policy.
Despite the ongoing tensions, however, the chairman underscored the need for
Seoul to maintain humanitarian aid and exchange programs with North Korea.
"(South Korea must also) actively engage in resolving issues, such as separated
families, prisoners of war and abductees, as well as protecting defectors from
North Korea."
Regarding the controversy surrounding the government's decision to revise the
Sejong City plan, Chung said that the issue should be settled for good at the
National Assembly.
"It is parliament's duty to draw out the best measures through constructive
debate," the chairman said, while also proposing regular talks with the head of
the main opposition party to discuss various disputed issues.
The government last month announced a plan to reverse an initiative by its
predecessor to relocate a number of key government offices to Sejong City, now
under construction in South Chungcheong Province, some 150 kilometers south of
Seoul.
Under the proposed revisions, the new city would be turned into a business and
science hub instead of an administrative town, with several leading South Korean
conglomerates already having agreed to set up operations there.
The decision to scrap the original plan has caused a political uproar among
opposition parties, Chungcheong residents and even a minor faction in the ruling
party, led by Park Geun-hye, one of the strongest contenders for the 2012
presidential election.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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