[INTERVIEW] Only diplomacy can change North Korea: Assembly Speaker

National Assembly Speaker Chung Sye-kyun speaks during an interview with The Korea Times, Oct. 24, at his office in the Assembly. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

Assembly speaker wants to help revitalize inter-Korean talks

By Choi Ha-young

National Assembly Speaker Chung Sye-kyun said he will deliver a message of peace when he meets United States President Donald Trump, Nov. 8.

"Dialogue and diplomacy should be the only option to resolve the crisis caused by North Korea's nuclear program, although sanctions are accompanied," Chung said in an interview with The Korea Times last week. "I will deliver to President Trump the Korean people's wishes for peace."

The U.S. president plans to deliver a speech at the South Korean National Assembly, Nov. 8, after arriving here the previous day.

"The goal of international sanctions against North Korea is to bring it back to the negotiating table. I can't agree with any kind of military option," Chung said.

Chung said he is waiting for Trump's speech with great interest as are his compatriots because it will be a crucial moment for the two Koreas.

Trump is expected to speak about the North Korean nuclear issue, the future of the Seoul-Washington alliance and the renegotiation of the two countries' free trade agreement, he said.

"I'm sure his speech will show his respect for the Assembly and the Korean people," Chung said. "I think the American President's Seoul visit will lay the effective foundation in resolving North Korean nuclear issues."

The six-term lawmaker, originally a member of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, has traveled all over the world in his attempts to end the deadlock on the peninsula. He has suggested parliamentary-level six-party talks since his inauguration, as well as bilateral meetings between legislative bodies of the two Koreas.

"By creating a separate dialogue channel between legislative bodies, I think the Assembly could prompt government-level talks which have come to a standstill. Even if the North has not responded to my overtures, I will keep trying throughout my term."

The interview came two days after his 10-day trip to Eastern Europe including the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting in Moscow. There, Chung attempted to meet with his North Korean counterpart, Deputy Chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly Ahn Dong-chun, through Russian government connections.

"Federation Council of Russia Chairwoman Valentina Matviyenko was very active in bridging the two Koreas, but the North was seemingly unprepared to join the table," he said.

From Sept. 22 to 30 in the third MIKTA Speakers' Consultation, held in Istanbul, Turkey, the Assembly speaker put his emphasis on peace on the Korean Peninsula.

"Throughout the meetings with parliamentary speakers and high-ranking officials, I explained Seoul's North Korea policy — the necessity of sanctions and peaceful resolution through dialogue — and asked for their cooperation. I've also expanded international common ground on Seoul's initiatives, by bilateral meetings with parliamentary speakers from Uzbekistan, Australia, Turkey, Russia, India, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Iran, Poland and Slovakia."

Chung lauded the Iran nuclear deal in his speech in New York in September last year, as a meaningful precedent in handling nuclear threats. "If the Iran deal had worked well, it would have been a good reference in solving the North Korean nuclear problem. It's quite regretful the deal has been undermined."

In addition to diplomatic efforts, he underlined the importance of national security in line with President Moon Jae-in's the three-pronged defense initiative — the Kill Chain preemptive strike system, the Korean Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) and the Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation.

"The nation should have completed the system earlier, particularly the KAMD to intercept incoming North Korean missiles. The Park Geun-hye government didn't do so based on the groundless espionage claim that the Kim Jong-un regime would collapse within three years," Chung said.

National Assembly Speaker Chung Sye-kyun poses during an interview with The Korea Times, Oct. 24, at his office in the Assembly. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

Constitutional revision

Domestically, Chung has put his top priority on revising the Constitution.

Experts and citizens agree that the country's Constitution, which was last updated in 1987 as a result of a nationwide pro-democracy movement, is outdated. The existing Constitution features a system of direct election of the President and concentrates power in the presidential office. This was a symbolic motion of putting an end to military dictators who tasted power without fair elections, but calls have mounted for checks and balances.

"The possibility of constitutional revision is the highest it's ever been. The conditions for the revision have never matured like this before," Chung said.

The country has attempted revision for more than a decade but the bid has always fallen apart. This time, the voice for decentralization of presidential power has gained momentum following the impeachment of President Park who abused her authority.

"Parties have shown some dissonance in details of the envisioned Constitution, but 90 percent of lawmakers are in favor of the revision. I believe the parties could reach an agreement in forming a united bill for constitutional amendment."

Chung accentuated that the National Assembly, rather than the administration, particularly an Assembly special committee dedicated to designing the bill, should take the helm. President Moon said the government may put forward a separate bill for the revision if the Assembly fails to reach a consensus on the bill on time.

To put the bill to a referendum in tandem with the local elections in June 2018, the bill should pass the Assembly's plenary session by May 24 next year. This means the committee should propose the bill no later than March 15.

"Before the President makes a separate bill public, it would be more efficient to submit the government's ideas to the special committee to get lawmakers to discuss the issues in the Assembly," Chung said. "It would be ideal to draw up the bill for constitutional amendment in the Assembly, based on the opinions of people from all walks of life."

Another disputed issue in designing a new Constitution is basic human rights. Particularly, some Christian groups are up in arms against a possible change to the phrase "gender equality" from "equal rights for both sexes," saying this may undermine their traditions.

Some are against expanding the subject of natural rights from "all Korean nationals" to "people," a term embracing foreigners and refugees. Talks are also underway around the right to asylum to articulate the country's responsibility in welcoming refugees.

"Opinions are divided between those who support universal human rights and those who think the nation doesn't need to protect illegal immigrants who do not impose all sorts of duties as Korean nationals," Chung said.

"Korean society may find it burdensome to accept all kinds of fundamental rights. Then the new Constitution should aim to introduce basic rights corresponding to international covenants on human rights. In the discussion, top priority should be formation of social consensus."

The speaker has highlighted the importance of a cooperative political culture. As a result of last year's general election, the 20th Assembly features a multiparty system. The structure of the Assembly which is unfamiliar to Koreans has facilitated interparty dialogue in solving politically sensitive issues.

"Cooperation between parties is the destiny of the 20th Assembly," Chung said. "Floor leaders of four parties are my core partners in managing legislative affairs. Even if the process is not effortless, regular meetings have successfully settled down."

As speaker of the 20th Assembly, Chung is also in charge of representing the voices of citizens who took to the streets last winter. Celebrating the first anniversary of the first candlelit rally Oct. 29 last year, he offered to "export" the know-how of the social movement.

"In total 1.7 million people protested to remove the disgraced leader but almost no one was hurt. The peaceful power moved the parliament and the new government launched successfully. This unprecedented movement boasts how mature Korean democracy is," Chung said.

"Beyond self-praise, let's study how the rallies were organized and what the participants' strategies were. This could be a good reference for nations that are struggling to establish democracy."