Speaker in no rush to hold parliamentary talks with NK
National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang speaks during a press conference held to mark the New Year at the National Assembly, Thursday. / Yonhap
By Park Ji-won
National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang said the Assembly is not in a rush to hold a parliamentary meeting with North Korea in order not to hamper inter-Korean relations.
“I'm clearly saying I will be in no rush to hold the summit,” Moon told reporters during a press conference to mark the New Year at the National Assembly, Thursday.
“It is because there is a possibility that the parliamentary talk between the two Koreas can interfere in improving inter-Korean relations.”
His remarks came after he pledged to hold the inter-Korean meeting to boost exchanges between the two countries. The two Koreas have been discussing holding the summit for decades, but the move never materialized. However, following a reconciliatory mood on the Korean Peninsula, expectations were high over holding the event.
When asked about the possibility of holding the summit early this year, Moon said “(South Korean officials) said they will convey the message about specific schedules to the North during a high-level meeting in Gaeseong. There is no reply and we are waiting for the North's answer.”
He said he cannot elaborate on details but said: “The parliament is planning to come up with specific measures to meet with North Korean counterparts. I will let you know when things are organized.”
Moon also pledged to create more bills this year to help people's lives.
Citing several laws that were passed after casualties, including three women who killed themselves due to financial difficulties, Moon expressed sorrow about being late to pass the related bills.
“Even though the parliament was able to pass the bills called the 'Yoon Chang-ho law' and the 'Kim Yong-gyun law' at the end of the year, I express shame as Assembly Speaker that those laws were made from people's deaths and sacrifices,” Moon said.
“The ideal is to propose a bill in advance (before something happens.)”
To do so, he proposed to hold more small committees of the standing committees to review more bills.