President Kim to conduct cabinet, ruling party reshuffle after Assembly session

The President Kim Dae-Jung will conduct reshuffles of the ruling Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) and the government after the current National Assembly regular session closes Dec. 9, if the shakeup is deemed necessary for administrative and partisan reforms, Han Kwang-Ok, chief presidential secretary, said on Thursday.

The chief Chong Wa Dae secretary made the remarks in a press interview following his briefings to the President on the overall political situation. He also said that President Kim would devote himself to corporate and financial restructuring for the time being and would then reshuffle the ruling camp if it is considered necessary after the current regular parliamentary session ends.

With regard to the timing of the shakeups, Han noted that as the parliament is tied up with various important bills, including the public fund motion, the 2001 budget bill and other bills for reforms and the people's livelihood, the reshuffles could not be conducted during the Assembly session. He said that he had not heard that MDP chairman Suh Young-Hoon and other key party post holders would tender their resignations to President Kim.

In this connection, Kim was said to be considering the replacement of the party's four key post holders, except for chairman Suh, some of the Chong Wa Dae secretaries and some members of the cabinet portfolios. The reshuffles, if conducted, could take place immediately after the closure of the parliamentary sitting, it was speculated.

Meanwhile, referring to Kim's controversial visit to Norway to receive the Nobel Peace Prize Dec. 10, the chief presidential aide stressed that his trip would be beneficial to the nation in many aspects, adding that he would visit the country for a brief period accompanied by a small entourage.

Contending that it is a gross mistake to think that the President is not fully aware of the domestic situation and the channels of communication between him and the people are blocked, Han asserted that the President is very familiar with current state affairs and receives various briefings on them regularly.