The 2007 inter-Korean summit looked likely to cause further controversy after lawmakers searching for the transcript of the meeting concluded that the records could not be found.
On Monday, ruling Saenuri Party and main opposition Democratic Party lawmakers concluded that the National Archives was not in possession of the transcript.
The transcript of the summit became a hot political issue following claims that late President Roh Moo-hyun had denied the legitimacy of the Northern Limit Line ― the de facto maritime border between the two Koreas ― to late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.
After the National Intelligence Service disclosed its records of the summit to lawmakers, the two main parties agreed to view those kept by the National Archives in an effort to put the issue to rest.
On July 15, the two parties began analyzing the National Archives’ records concerning the issue. On Thursday, however, it was revealed that records did not include the transcript, prompting the Saenuri Party and the DP to engage in yet more political wrangling.
The ruling party is leaning toward referring the issue to the prosecution.
“As this is a serious breach of national order, I think that the process of the records going missing should be fully uncovered,” Saenuri Party floor leader Rep. Choi Kyung-hwan said at the party leadership meeting on Monday.
Other senior members stepped up the offensive against the DP.
“The DP says that the Lee Myung-bak administration removed (the records), but looking at the storage and access methods, (DP’s) claims are obstinate,” Rep. Shim Jae-chul said.
Rep. Yoo Ki-june called for a “thorough investigation” if the transcripts were not transferred to the National Archives.
The DP has already begun attacking ruling party and current and previous government officials while raising questions about how the records went missing.
Saying that NIS chief Nam Jae-joon and influential Saenuri Party figures had been implying that the transcripts would not be found at the National Archives, DP floor leader Rep. Jun Byung-hun raised the possibility of tampering by the conservative party.
“Such comments could not have been made unless they verified the existence of the records illegally or unless they were involved in damaging the records,” Jun said. He also said the seal on related records had been broken on at least two occasions after March 2010.
“The illegal accesses were made immediately after record keepers of the previous administration were removed from office, the timing is nothing but dubious. Just who illegally accessed sealed records for what reasons must be uncovered.”
By Choi He-suk
(
cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)
