DATE=4/24/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=KOREA SUMMIT (L)
NUMBER=2-261651
BYLINE=HYUN-SUNG KHANG
DATELINE=SEOUL, KOREA
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: South Korea's president has secured the
support of the main opposition party for his
unprecedented June summit with North Korean leader Kim
Jong-il. As Hyun-Sung Khang reports from Seoul, the
president and his political rival met and agreed in a
rare display of cooperation on policy toward North
Korea.
TEXT: In a statement issued after the meeting, both
men welcomed the North-South summit and say they will
work for bipartisan support. In the past, the
conservative opposition leader, Lee Hoi Chang, has
vehemently accused the president of making too many
concessions to reclusive North Korea.
So in return for opposition backing, President Kim Dae
Jung has pledged not to make one-sided overtures to
North Korea at the summit. The joint statement says
the principle of reciprocity will be upheld in seeking
economic cooperation with the North. It adds that any
projects involving taxpayers' money would be subject
to approval by the National Assembly.
This arrangement could restrict the president's
ability to negotiate in June. The opposition party
holds the largest number of seats after legislative
elections earlier this month.
Still Mr. Lee's spokesman says the opposition leader
wishes President Kim success at the summit and leads
to the reunion of families separated by the division
of the Korean peninsula, nearly a half century ago.
Preparations for the June summit are already underway.
The first meeting to hammer out the agenda and
procedural details wrapped up in the last few days. A
second is planned for this Thursday. The summit, due
to take place in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang,
in June, will be the first such meeting in the history
of the two Koreas. (Signed)
NEB/HK/LTD/JO
24-Apr-2000 08:33 AM EDT (24-Apr-2000 1233 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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