By Jun Ji-hye
The ruling Saenuri Party and main opposition Democratic Party (DP) on Friday expressed hopes of ending the continuing controversy over remarks that the late former President Roh Moo-hyun is said to have made about the Northern Limit Line (NLL) six years ago.
Saenuri Party Floor Leader Choi Kyung-hwan declared that his party will stop making comments about the missing transcripts of the 2007 inter-Korean summit as well as making allegations that Roh disavowed the de facto border line in the West Sea.
“From now on, we will cease all political strife regarding the NLL,” said Choi. “Leaving the task of verifying the truth about the matter to an investigation by the prosecution, we will go back to our essential duties, handling affairs related to people’s livelihood.”
Parties earlier agreed to unseal the original summit records to scrutinize whether or not Roh negated the NLL. But lawmakers failed to find the material in the National Archives of Korea, creating a fresh controversy over who was responsible for the disappearance.
Choi also expressed skepticism about disclosing the pre- and post-summit arrangements that the archives already submitted to the Assembly.
“There is greater possibility that the disclosure will amplify conflict between the rival parties,” he said.
The DP also proposed putting an end to partisan quarreling over the NLL during its visit to a naval base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Korean War armistice, which falls today.
“We must not forget many young men sacrificed their life to defend the NLL. The DP will take the initiative in protecting nation’s border line,” said DP Chairman Kim Han-gil.
DP floor leader Rep. Jun Byung-hun said the public is asking parties to stop wasteful wrangling.
“I suggest rival parties agree to permanently finish the NLL controversy and jointly express wills to protect the border,” he said.
However, the DP said that the Saenuri Party’s proposal to finish the controversy about the absence of summit minutes is just embarrassing, claiming it was the ruling party that unilaterally filed a complaint with the prosecution against former Roh aides for the disappearance of the summit minutes.