After weeks of bickering, rival parties have agreed to view and disclose the original version of the 2007 inter-Korean summit transcript.

But the deal marks only the start of more partisan fighting, surrounding the legality of the unprecedented process and differing interpretations of the legacy of former liberal leader Roh Moo-hyun.

Procedural steps began Wednesday as the National Assembly delivered the request to the National Archives of Korea to access the classified document. The parliament on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved the motion to look into the presidential archives amid a growing dispute over allegations that the former president almost compromised the West Sea boundary with North Korea during the summit.

But the legality of the process is questioned and the rival parties remain poles apart in their intent to view the archives.

The Saenuri Party claims that Roh had tried to annul the Northern Limit Line during his talks with then-North Korea leader Kim Jong-il, backed by the release of the transcript kept by the National Intelligence Service last week. The DP has questioned the authenticity of the NIS’ document and demanded to see the original account.

The Saenuri Party believes that looking into the presidential archives will be a chance to reconfirm their claim against Roh. They believe that the version kept by the National Archives will be little different from the earlier version released by the National Intelligence Service.

The DP, on the other hand, believes that by checking not only the summit transcript but also all preparatory and relevant documents, Roh will be cleared of the accusation that he intended to give up the NLL.

Some also question the legitimacy of publicly disclosing the contents of the presidential archive, citing current regulations that ban release of the acquired information, which is punishable by up to three years of imprisonment.

For this, the parties may choose to rely on their constitutional right to immunity that protects their statements made while on duty, observers said.

Meanwhile, the access to all relevant documents is likely to open a can of worms as they will contain past remarks made by all relevant members of the Roh government. They include then-Defense Minister Kim Jang-soo, who is now President Park Geun-hye’s national security chief, and then-senior secretary for foreign affairs Yun Byung-se, who is now foreign minister.

The documents are expected to include all internal reviews and discussions by Cheong Wa Dae and foreign affairs and security-related ministries at the time over a designation of the joint fisheries in the West Sea.

The Saenuri Party was visibly attempting to place more responsibility on the DP for their decision “to open Pandora’s box.”

“Although it’s true we have been somewhat passive, but we were only following the demands made by the DP and Rep. Moon Jae-in,” said Saenuri Party’s chief policymaker Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon in a radio interview.

The DP’s floor leader Rep. Jun Byung-hun, meanwhile, countered criticism that their decision left an “inappropriate precedence” by saying, “The milk is already spilled with illegal copies (of the transcript) being rampantly circulated about. It is the only means to resolve all disputes and problems.”

He also underscored that his party will definitely be revisiting the alleged pre-leak of the transcript to some of the Saenuri Party’s key campaign managers last year.

Upon receiving the request, the National Archives must deliver the relevant documents to the National Assembly’s House Steering Committee within 10 days.

The rival parties will need to discuss who will view them, where, for how long and in what method. They will also be comparing the original version with the NIS version. The next task would be whether and how to announce the outcome.

Among the 17 lawmakers who objected to the parties’ decision against 275 in Tuesday’s vote were former aide to late President Kim Dae-jung Rep. Park Jie-won and independent Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo.

Park, who was a special envoy to the North for the first inter-Korean summit in 2000 was quoted as saying in news reports that the “principle that presidential archives should remain classified and should never be tampered with. It is despicable in diplomatic history not to mention hurting the efforts to build trust among summits.”

Ahn opposed, saying that using the presidential archives for political wrangling is unhelpful to the future of the country or development of politics.

By Lee Joo-hee (jhl@heraldcorp.com)