Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the United Future Party, is questioning while showing the inter-Korean agreement document at the confirmation hearing of Park Ji-won, nominee for the Director of the National Intelligence Service, held at the National Assembly on the 27th. Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kang Joo-hee] Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the United Future Party, claimed on the 28th that the copy of the 'Behind-the-scenes Agreement (April 8 Inter-Korean Economic Cooperation Agreement)' disclosed at the confirmation hearing for Park Ji-won, nominee for the Director of the National Intelligence Service, was a document received from a former high-ranking official.
On the same day, Floor Leader Joo appeared on YTN Radio's "Start New Morning" and said, "A former high-ranking official came to my office with the document and said, 'This happened, so please raise this issue during the confirmation hearing.'"
He continued, "At first, (Park the nominee) said he did not remember, then said he did not sign it, then said in the afternoon that he did not sign it and that it was forged. Then the question came back asking if he could present the original document," adding, "But if that document is true, there should be one copy in Pyongyang and one copy in our country kept as a top-secret document. So how could the original be obtained?"
He added, "This is a copy, but I understand that several people involved in making such a document in Beijing in 2000 are known," and "I believe the truth will be revealed over time."
Floor Leader Joo said, "He denies having signed it, but the issue of remittances to the North, which was confirmed by the special prosecutor and Supreme Court rulings, is evidence of secret communication with the North without informing the public," and "In that regard, I consider him unfit as the next Director of the National Intelligence Service."
Earlier, on the 27th, at the National Assembly confirmation hearing, Floor Leader Joo claimed that Park, who was Minister of Culture and Tourism at the time, agreed to provide a total of 3 billion dollars in aid to North Korea ahead of the June 15 Inter-Korean Summit in 2000, and disclosed a copy of a secret document.
The document contained details that the government would provide 2.5 billion dollars in investment and economic cooperation loans to social overhead capital sectors in North Korea over three years starting June 2000, and an additional 500 million dollars as humanitarian aid in connection with the Inter-Korean summit.
In response, Park the nominee claimed, "The signature was forged to slander me and President Kim Dae-jung," and opposed by saying he would request an investigation.
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