By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff Reporter

Leaders of the two major political parties agreed Tuesday to normalize the National Assembly after more than 80 days of a tug of war regarding a bill to control infectious diseases in cattle.

A dramatic agreement was made after several rounds of negotiations between Hong Joon-pyo, floor leader of the governing Grand National Party (GNP), and his Democratic Party (DP) counterpart Won Hye-young.

The main opposition DP linked the bill to the formation of 18 standing committees of the Assembly as a precondition. The new legislature began its four-year term, May 30.

The unicameral legislature plans to pass the revision next Tuesday.

The two sides agreed to ban the import of beef cuts from cows aged 30 months or older for five years if mad cow disease breaks out in the exporting country.

Under the agreement, the government must renegotiate with the United States if elements of U.S. beef deals with other countries such as Japan are stricter in terms of food safety and other conditions than the pact signed between Seoul and Washington in April.

Government negotiators must now get parliamentary approval before they sign a beef deal with foreign countries if they plan to import beef from cattle aged 30 months or older.

Parliamentary approval is also needed when the government resumes the import of beef cuts, which were previously banned.

The floor leaders, however, said the beef deal struck between South Korea and the United States will not be affected by the revision.

GNP leaders opposed negotiations, warning that the revision will ignite trade friction with foreign nations.

The DP insisted on the revision, saying that measures for food safety should be strengthened.

The two parties also agreed that the number of standing committees will be reduced from the current 19 to 18.

Based on the seats, GNP lawmakers will lead 11 committees, DP legislators will head six panels and the remaining one post will be assigned to a coalition of the Liberty Forward Party and the Renewal of Korea Party.

Hong said the Assembly would also enforce the no-work-no-pay rule for lawmakers by inserting it in a bill.

``Lawmakers will not get paid unless they work,'' Hong told reporters.

hkang@koreatimes.co.kr