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Authorities begin probe into handling of pact with Japan
By Korea HeraldPublished : July 4, 2012 - 20:10
The government launched an investigation into the processing of the canceled military information agreement with Japan on Wednesday.
Speaking on local radio on Wednesday, Democratic United Party chairman Lee Hae-chan called on the president to apologize before the National Assembly’s plenary session on July 16. He said the General Security of Military Information Agreement was the “final version of the Lee Myung-bak government’s movement against the times.”
“President Lee needs to apologize for processing the Korea-Japan military information agreement without the knowledge of the public before the National Assembly’s first plenary session on the 16th,” the DUP leader said.
He added, “Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik, and the heads of concerned ministries should be removed from office, and the agreement should be discarded.”
In the afternoon, Foreign Ministry spokesman Cho Byung-jae offered to resign.
“I feel a responsibility for making things worse and causing some trouble to the minister,” the spokesman told reporters.
The government is conducting an investigation into the process under the direction of Cheong Wa Dae’s civil affairs secretariat, while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade as well as the Ministry of National Defense are conducting separate investigations.
According to reports citing unnamed Cheong Wa Dae officials, presidential aide for external strategies Kim Tae-hyo set the time frame of signing the agreement within June, and the Foreign Ministry’s chief of Northeast Asian affairs agreed with Japan to conduct related processes without disclosure.
On June 26, the Cabinet approved the signing of the General Security of Military Information Agreement.
In addition, the provisional version of the agreement was initialed by defense and diplomatic officials of Korea and Japan on April 23. The agreement was scheduled to be signed and finalized on June 29, but was postponed upon request of Korean politicians.
Both developments were kept from the public and the National Assembly.
By Choi He-suk (cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)
Speaking on local radio on Wednesday, Democratic United Party chairman Lee Hae-chan called on the president to apologize before the National Assembly’s plenary session on July 16. He said the General Security of Military Information Agreement was the “final version of the Lee Myung-bak government’s movement against the times.”
“President Lee needs to apologize for processing the Korea-Japan military information agreement without the knowledge of the public before the National Assembly’s first plenary session on the 16th,” the DUP leader said.
He added, “Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik, and the heads of concerned ministries should be removed from office, and the agreement should be discarded.”
In the afternoon, Foreign Ministry spokesman Cho Byung-jae offered to resign.
“I feel a responsibility for making things worse and causing some trouble to the minister,” the spokesman told reporters.
The government is conducting an investigation into the process under the direction of Cheong Wa Dae’s civil affairs secretariat, while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade as well as the Ministry of National Defense are conducting separate investigations.
According to reports citing unnamed Cheong Wa Dae officials, presidential aide for external strategies Kim Tae-hyo set the time frame of signing the agreement within June, and the Foreign Ministry’s chief of Northeast Asian affairs agreed with Japan to conduct related processes without disclosure.
On June 26, the Cabinet approved the signing of the General Security of Military Information Agreement.
In addition, the provisional version of the agreement was initialed by defense and diplomatic officials of Korea and Japan on April 23. The agreement was scheduled to be signed and finalized on June 29, but was postponed upon request of Korean politicians.
Both developments were kept from the public and the National Assembly.
By Choi He-suk (cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)
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Articles by Korea Herald
