Lawmakers attack government intelligence capabilities on North Korea...

Lawmakers are calling on the government to reexamine its North Korea intelligence gathering system.

During a meeting Friday of the National Assembly's special committee on the development of inter-Korean ties, ruling Grand National Party (GNP) Representative Kim Se-yeon said South Korea remains in the dark when it comes to information inside North Korea. Kim questioned whether the Unification Ministry has the capability to handle events of a contingency in North Korea.

Representative Shin Hak-yong of the main opposition United Democratic Party also criticized government agencies including the Defense Ministry and the National Intelligence Service for apparently having problems in their intelligence sharing network.

Unification Minister Yu Woo-ik and Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin responded by promising efforts to foster experts on North Korean affairs and closely cooperate with the National Intelligence Service. Yu added he's prepared to hold talks with the North and he will take response measures while abiding by principles.

GNP Representative Ahn Hong-joon called for the government's proactive stance in order to establish new relations with North Korean successor Kim Jong-un.
(KBS World Radio, 2011-12-23)