The Grand National Party has asked the ruling Uri Party to hold a hearing on the planned withdrawal of wartime operational control of Korean troops from the U.S. It is also mulling a no-confidence motion in Defense Minister Yoon Kwang-ung depending on the outcome of the hearing.

The GNP held a meeting of top lawmakers on the controversial issue on Monday. “The Roh Moo-hyun administration must stop politicizing the withdrawal of wartime control from the U.S. and misleading the public,” the conservative party’s leader Kang Jae-sup said. Kang also added the government “must disclose every detail of the matter to the public, such as how much burden they have to shoulder and whether it will cause any problems for security on the Korean Peninsula if we actually reclaim wartime operational control from the U.S., and seek public consent.” Kang Chang-hee, a member of the GNP Supreme Council described the issue “as another of the government’s mishandlings of the administration. It is so crucial that it could lead to the collapse of our nation” and called for a referendum saying it was “directly related to the security of our nation.”

The matter looks set to escalate. A large-scale rally against the withdrawal of wartime control is to be held Friday near Seoul Station, with 173 organizations including Korea Retired Generals and the Admirals Association taking part. Former defense ministers have decided to set up a body that will offer regular comment on a range of security issues. Military sources expect the body to establish itself an influential organization in security police making.

(englishnews@chosun.com )