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By Park Ji-won
The ruling camp agreed Wednesday to push for diverse programs to spur peace momentum on the Korean Peninsula based on strong parliamentary support.
The agreement was made at a policy coordination meeting among senior officials from Cheong Wa Dae, the government and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK).
They shared views that the National Assembly's ratification of the inter-Korean Panmunjeom Declaration was essential to advance projects with North Korea.
DPK floor leader Hong Young-pyo said the ruling party will push to set up an Assembly special committee, that has more authority than the previous one, on inter-Korean relations to implement the results of the April summit as well as those of the June 12 Singapore summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump.
"(The DPK) will push for making a special committee to have the authority to have the legislative authority and budget screening," said Hong.
Parties have been discussing initiating the special committee but failed to adopt a resolution to support the two-Korea summit as they weren't able to narrow the differences on choosing the committee members and its authority, as well as on the wording of North Korea's denuclearization in the resolution.
The government officials also hinted at the possibility of expanding ties with the North and economic exchanges by cooperating with the U.S. and U.N.
"Regarding the South and North relations, (we will) push for the exchanges and cooperation to the extent that it is not restricted by the sanctions against North Korea," Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon said.
