A second intra-Korean summit is necessary in order to create a political environment to attract foreign investment, Lee said. Korea would ensure the summit materialized through consultations with the United States, Japan and the European Union, he said.

Members of the Uri Party and foreign economists in Korea had a meeting at the Hyatt Hotel in Seoul, on Thursday morning. Before the start of the meeting, the party's leader Lee Bu-young shakes hands with William Oberlin, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (fourth from left), Frans Hampsink, president of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in Korea (second from left) and other attendants. /Yonhap

Lee said his party puts a priority on peacefully resolving the North Korean nuclear issue, establishing advanced labor-management relations, enhancing transparency and easing regulations in order to induce foreign capital investment and help foreign business activities. Some condemn the government and the party as anti-market, but that is nothing more than political rhetoric, the chairman said.

Lee said at a debate on Oct. 12 that the North Korean nuclear problem would become the biggest issue after the U.S presidential election, and he proposed sending a special envoy to Pyongyang and holding a second intra-Korean summit.

(Ahn Yong-kyun, agon@chosun.com )