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Korea's two major political parties on Tuesday butted heads once again over a decision by
the nation's spy agency to release a full transcript of the 2007 inter-Korean summit.
While the two sides remain far apart on that issue, they did agree to launch a probe into
allegations that the spy agency meddled in last year's presidential election.
Our Kim Yeon-ji reports. The ruling Saenuri Party on Tuesday said that releasing the transcript
of the 2007 inter-Korean summit was inevitable.
That lines the ruling party up with the National Intelligence Service,. which disclosed to
lawmakers on Monday what it claims is the full transcript of the summit minutes.
Saying that public opinion is sharply divided over the issue, Saenuri floor leader Choi
Kyung-hwan argued the decision was made to let the truth be known.
"The Democratic Party is calling the summit minutes a 'fabrication' and is refusing to
receive the document. The DP should realize that what we must fear is the people's assessment
and that their attempt to bury the historical truth will not solve anything."
Democratic Party floor leader Jun Byung-hun shot back on Tuesday,. saying that late President
Roh Moo-hyun's alleged concession to give up the de-facto maritime border between the
two Koreas,. the Northern Limit Line,. is no where to be found in the transcript.
"Nothing in the transcript talks about nullifying the N-L-L. President Roh simply said the two
Koreas should make efforts to create a peace and economic zone around the border."
Leader of the DP Kim Han-gil took aim at the National Intelligence Service.
He said the N-I-S was in violation of the law by releasing the transcript,. and alleged
that the agency did so to distract from its interference in last year's presidential election.
N-I-S chief Nam Jae-joon told the National Assembly's Intelligence Committee Tuesday
that he authorized the release of the transcript for the honor of his agency.
"Meanwhile, the rival parties did agree to launch a probe into suspicions that the N-I-S
interfered in last year's presidential election by ordering agents to post negative comments
about the opposition candidate on the Internet."
Kim Yeon-ji, Arirang News.