Ruling Party Expresses "Regret to US Over Visa Delay" ... Opposition Says "Foreign Ministry Also Responsible"

[Anchor]

Today (October 27), the National Assembly is conducting a comprehensive audit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Unification. Over the issue of visa delays, the ruling party expressed regret toward the United States, while the conservative opposition fired back, arguing that "the Foreign Ministry also bears responsibility."

Kim Ji-uk reports.

[Reporter]

This morning at the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee's comprehensive parliamentary audit.

With Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Unification Minister Chung Dong-young in attendance, the ruling party brought up the issue of visa issuance.

Representative Jung Chung-rae, who had to change his destination earlier this month ahead of a parliamentary audit in the U.S. due to delayed visa issuance, expressed regret toward the United States.

[Jung Chung-rae / Lawmaker, Democratic Party of Korea: "I find this deeply regrettable. This is an issue where we should transcend party lines and lodge a bipartisan protest with the U.S., not one to be used to attack our own government."]

[Hong Gi-won / Lawmaker, Democratic Party of Korea: "If the U.S. government failed to issue a visa in time for someone who served as the leader of the ruling party, we should at least adopt a stance of criticizing such an attitude by the U.S...."]

The People Power Party countered that "an unthinkable situation has occurred" as fissures opened in the South Korea-U.S. relationship, arguing that the South Korean government is also to blame.

[Kim Dae-sik / Lawmaker, People Power Party: "So the question being asked is whether the South Korea-U.S. relationship is truly solid right now. In that respect, I believe the Foreign Ministry also bears responsibility."]

[Jeong Jeom-sik / Lawmaker, People Power Party: "Even Ambassador to the U.S. Kang Kyung-wha virtually admitted to a breakdown in communication, saying that high-level communication with the White House has been frustrating."]

Noting that viewpoints on the alliance diverge depending on political stances, calls were also voiced urging the need for a solid South Korea-U.S. relationship.

[Song Seok-jun / Chairperson, National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee: "I hope we can work together to narrow our differences so that there are no issues with the foundation of the South Korea-U.S. alliance."]

During today's audit, clashes also erupted between the ruling and opposition parties over a resolution condemning North Korea's landmine provocation in the Demilitarized Zone.

While the People Power Party called for adopting the resolution to demonstrate the National Assembly's resolve, the ruling party countered that while it agrees on demanding an apology and punishment for those responsible, a resolution has already been passed by the National Assembly's National Defense Committee.

(Video by Wi Won-yang)

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