The World : Kim Dae Jung Steps Down

South Korean opposition leader Kim Dae Jung resigned as head of the Party for Peace and Democracy in an attempt to unite the opposition before National Assembly elections expected in April. Kim said in a statement that he decided to resign because his presence was blocking unification and because he had failed to win the Dec. 16 presidential election. The statement made no mention of his plans. Kim Young Sam, who headed the rival Reunification Democratic Party, resigned as party president in February to clear the way for the opposition to unite, but unification talks soon broke down. Last week, Kim Dae Jung had refused to resign.