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Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon bows before responding to questions during an emergency meeting at the National Assembly on Thursday.
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The National Assembly convened an emergency hearing Thursday in order to find out the truth behind Kim Sun-il¡¯s killing. The National Assembly intensively criticized the government for its lack of diplomatic abilities.
The ruling and opposition party lawmakers focused on taking disciplinary actions against diplomats in charge of Kim¡¯s case.
Grand National Party legislator Maeng Hyeong-kyu asked acting Prime Minister Lee Hun-jai if the acting prime minister would suggest personnel moves in related sectors to President Roh Moo-hyun, because Kim¡¯s death is a diplomatic and security issue. Lee answered that several government agencies, including the Presidential Committee on Government Innovation, and Decentralization are considering them.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Ban Ki-moon said, ¡°I see,¡± in response to lawmaker Maeng¡¯s remark that the Foreign Minister should be held responsible concerning controversies over the ministry¡¯s neglect of an identification request made by the Associated Press.
In regards to Deputy Foreign Minister Choi Young-jin¡¯s optimistic report to Roh on Monday when the president visited the ministry, Foreign Minister Ban said, ¡°Al-Arabiya TV Network reported that day that the deadline was extended.¡± Our sources also told us that Kim was safe.¡±
In connection with the Associated Press¡¯ claim that the APTN obtained a video featuring Kim Sun-il and asked the Foreign Ministry about it, Minister Ban said, ¡°We are now conducting a thorough investigation into related departments. But it has not been confirmed that anyone received a phone call from AP.¡±
As lawmakers asked if the minister would have Gana Trading president Kim Chon-ho return to Korea in order to find out the exact situation, Minister Ban said, ¡°Kim Chon-ho strongly expressed that he would not come to Korea.¡±
(Im Hong-jin, mailer@chosun.com )
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