National Security Law to be revised

The ruling Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) has decided to pursue this year a revision of the National Security Law, which has been much criticized more heavily since the recent reconciliatory atmosphere of peaceful cooperation between South and North Korea.

"At this juncture in time of genuine inter-Korean interchange, including the establishment of facility for reunion of separated families and the restoration of mutual respect, we have reached the conclusion that it is imperative to revise the National Security Law, which systematically prevent the interchange between the peoples of the two states," said Bae Ki-Sun, MDP`s chairman of the First Office for Policy Planning and Coordination. "The revision will be worked out within this year. The MDP will clarify the party`s position on the revision of the National Security Law, as well as other laws during the party platform discussion at the August 30 Democratic Party Convention."

The MDP also has decided to include in its platform the adoption of inter-Korean cooperation and symbiotic coexistence, as well as the alleviation of regionalism under the three ideologies and goals of the party. The MDP leadership will submit the proposed party platform to President Kim Dae-Jung on August 25, and it will be released to the public by MDP chairman Suh Young-Hoon at a press conference.

"During a meeting with the South`s media heads, as the North`s leader Kim Jong-Il stated, ¡°It would be possible to revise the Labor Party`s rules, and it would not be linked directly to the South`s National Security Law. We also must not pursue direct linkage, but base our revision according to the wish of the people," MDP chief policymaker Lee Hae-Chan said earlier.