By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff Reporter
Rep. Kang Ki-kab of the minor opposition Democratic Labor Party (DLP) proposed Tuesday that the government dispatch a special envoy to Pyongyang in an attempt to ease inter-Korean tensions, which have escalated after a South Korean tourist was shot dead during a tour to Mt. Geumgang.
``The Washington-Pyongyang relations moved forward to a nuclear-free North Korea as the North destroyed its nuclear cooling tower last month. In contrast, the Seoul-Pyongyang relations are suffering after an unseen barrier of distrust came into play after the killing,'' said Kang, the party's floor leader.
In a speech at the National Assembly, he claimed President Lee Myung-bak eliminated options he could take in moving inter-Korean relations forward as he overly stressed the Seoul-Washington relationship.
Kang said dispatching a special envoy to Pyongyang could resolve the rising tension through person-to-person contact.
The DLP also urged the President to give up his so-called ``MB Doctrine,'' a conditional engagement in return for Pyongyang's complete dismantlement of its nuclear programs. ``Lee will be unable to make progress in the mounting inter-Korean tensions unless he gives up his hard line policy,'' Kang warned.
President Lee has not made any official comments on the suggestions so far.
In a separate move, the Unification Ministry said it has a card to play in convincing Pyongyang to join hands for a fact-finding mission, but refused to give any details.
The DLP lawmaker made it clear that the North should explain what had happened in the tragic shooting death of a South Korean tourist.
Last week, DLP spokesman Park Seung-eop urged Pyongyang to make an apology for the killing. North Korean authorities overseeing cultural heritages expressed regret over the tragic event, but, Park said, this was not considered a public apology.
Pyongyang has remained silence over the DLP's call.
The ruling Grand National Party (GNP), meanwhile, stood firm, clarifying that the North should not attempt to cover up the killing by defining it as an accident.
Rumors have it that a 17-year old female North Korean solider accidentally shot the tourist.
Rep. Lee Myung-gyu of the GNP analyzed Pyongyang might fan the unsubstantiated rumor because it wants to conceal the details. Lee urged the authorities handling the case to find the actual cause and not rely on groundless rumors.