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Opposition lawmakers press Lee’s administration to support ratification of June 15 and October 4 declarations

June 15 keynote speaker urges a switch to North-South harmony, while others attribute interruption in family reunions, Mt. Kumgang Project and Kaesong Industrial Complex Project to incompetent Lee administration

» The chairpersons of the four opposition parties, from left to right, Democratic Party Chairperson Chung Sye-kyun, Democratic Labor Party Chairperson Kang Ki-kap, Creative Korea Party Chairperson Moon Kook-hyun, and New Progressive Party Chairperson Roh hoe-chan, are present at the rally to mark the 9th anniversary of the June 15 Joint Declaration in Seoul, June 14.

Leaders of the Democratic Party (DP), Democratic Labor Party (DLP), Creative Korea Party and New Progressive Party issued a demand on Sunday that the Lee Myung-bak administration quickly confirm that it would carry on and honor the June 15 Joint Declaration and October 4 Statement in order to restore dialogue between North and South Korea.

At a rally to mark the 9th anniversary of the June 15 Joint Declaration held at Seoul’s Jangchung Gymnasium, DP Chairman Chung Sye-kyun said that since the inauguration of an incompetent Lee Myung-bak administration, not one reunion of separated families has been held, the Kumgang (Geumgang) Mountain Project has been stopped, and the Kaesong (Gaeseong) Industrial Complex has run the risk of closure. He called for everyone to unite to put clear pressure on President Lee to say he respects the June 15 and October 4 declarations. DLP Chairman Kang Ki-gap said the Lee Myung-bak administration needs to push the formalization and parliamentary ratification of the execution of the two declarations, abandon its hostile policies towards North Korea, and send a special envoy to North Korea to break through the current crisis in inter-Korean relations.

Kim Sang-geun, a South Korean co-representative on the Committee for the Implementation of the June 15 Joint Declaration said in a commemorative address that inter-Korean relations were growing more tense by the day and were racing towards a dangerous situation that could precipitate a war. He said the Lee Myung-bak administration needed to realize the spirit of the June 15 Joint Declaration from today forward, and switch to a policy of North-South harmony.

In an extraordinary editorial marking the ninth anniversary of the June 15 Joint Declaration issued by a Unification Ministry spokesperson Sunday, the administration said North Korea is unilaterally criticizing the South Korean government for not keeping the June 15 Joint Declaration, but it is North Korea that is not maintaining the agreement. The statement strongly pressed North Korea to end its provocations and cooperate to promote peace on the Korean Peninsula and inter-Korean reconciliation in the spirit of the inter-Korean agreements.

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]

Posted on : Jun.15,2009 12:26 KST

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