Parliamentary delegation planning to visit U.S.

SEOUL, July 6 (Yonhap) -- The floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party (DP) is working on a plan to visit the United States together with his opposition counterparts and other lawmakers as part of parliamentary diplomacy aimed at supporting Seoul's peace efforts, officials said.

In May, Rep. Hong Young-pyo, the DP's floor leader, said in an interview with Yonhap News TV that he had proposed to his three opposition counterparts that they jointly visit the U.S. after the June 13 local elections to make a case for Seoul's efforts to make peace with North Korea.

Ruling party officials said the party has since been working on the plan.

"As part of parliamentary diplomacy, we're making plans for the floor leaders of the ruling and opposition parties to travel to the U.S. together," a party official said. "Discussions are still underway (about details) such as whom they're going to meet."

Another party official said the lawmakers plan to depart for the U.S. on the night of July 17 and that it will be a large delegation that includes not only floor leaders but also their chief deputies as well as party spokespersons.

Rep. Roh Hoe-chan, floor leader of the minor opposition Justice Party, has voiced support for such parliamentary diplomatic efforts. It is unclear, however, whether Rep. Kim Sung-tae, floor leader of the Liberty Korea Party, would join the visit.
(END)