▲ Representative Lee Jae-myung of the Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) and Senate Minority Leader Park Kwang-on (right)


Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) Leader Park Kwang-on said, "The first step in restoring politics is for President Yoon Seok-yeol to engage in dialogue with MDP Representative Lee Jae-myong."

At the Supreme Council meeting on the morning of today (8th), Leader Park said, "I make a proposal to President Yoon Seok-yeol. I hope you will take a bold step in restoring politics."

Senate Leader Pak said, "That in itself will have the effect of reassuring the people," and suggested, "I think one way is to have a place to explain the results of ROK-US summit diplomacy and ROK-Japan summit diplomacy."

He said, "We must East Sea a permanent consultative body on the people's livelihood economy as soon as possible after the declaration of the restoration of dialogue," adding, "The ruling and opposition parties should closely and speedily negotiate on national issues and the urgent people's livelihood economy."

"I believe that many people will applaud your efforts to restore politics and, by extension, to restore people's livelihood," Leader Park said, adding, "I look forward to the day when I will soon meet the leader of the opposition even if there are some concerns, just as you will meet the prime minister of Japan despite some concerns."

Regarding the ROK-Japan summit talks, he pointed out, "What makes the difference between the Kim Tae-chung-Obuchi Declaration and yesterday's ROK-Japan summit diplomacy is that the ROK's national interests and the ROK people's agreement and pride are less than they were then."

"The people are deeply embarrassed by a clear apology for the past, a complete withdrawal of the Fukushima contaminated water input, a strong warning against Dokdo's territorial claims, and nothing being done," Park said.

He said, "I don't think any of the people will object to strengthening the ROK-U.S. alliance and improving relations between South Korea and Japan, but I also want you to remember that the public is very concerned that if we do not manage China-Russia relations in a balanced manner, we will undermine the overall national interest."

He added, "The ROK-Japan relationship should not be a substructure of the US-Japan alliance or that ROK-US relations or ROK-Japan relations should proceed in a process that undermines the overall national interests of South Korea."

(Photo = Yonhap News)