ULD leader announces restoration of coalition with ruling party

Kim Jong-Pil, honorary president of the United Liberal Democrats (ULD), officially declared Friday that he would restore cooperative relations with President Kim Dae-Jung.

The leader of the splinter party told reporters that he would devote all his energies to cooperating with President Kim, so that the incumbent administration can achieve its governmental goals.

Later in the day, the two decided to meet Monday over dinner at Cheong Wa Dae.

Following Kim Jong-Pil¡¯s official declaration, President Kim sent his chief secretary Han Kwang-Ok to the ULD leader¡¯s house in Chonggu-dong, downtown Seoul, to arrange a meeting between the two leaders to work out the details of the bilateral cooperative ties.

A high-ranking official of the ruling camp indicated that the meeting between the two Kims would be held next week, saying that it would be difficult this week because the ULD leader needs some time to resolve intra-party problems following the "defection" to the ULD of three ruling Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) lawmakers.

The ULD¡¯s honorary president participated in a welcoming ceremony for the three incoming MDP lawmakers at party headquarters.

He said, ``Although the ULD had good reasons for refusing cooperation with the MDP in the April general elections, we are now left with no choice but to cooperate at a time when the nation is in such turmoil.¡¯¡¯

The ULD will actively participate in efforts to resolve the nation's pending issues, he said.