Indicted Kim Vows to Push Seoul on Reforms

Opposition leader Kim Dae Jung, indicted in a national security case, said Saturday that he will try to rally South Korea’s splintered opposition forces for a new campaign to push government reforms.

Kim, head of the Party for Peace and Democracy, said his indictment Friday “is tantamount to the government of (President) Roh Tae Woo declaring it has given up its willingness to carry out reforms toward democracy.”

“There are over 900 political prisoners in jail. This is more than were jailed at any one time under the Chun Doo Hwan regime,” he said, referring to Roh’s predecessor.

Government officials deny holding any political prisoners.

Kim told a news conference that his party will introduce a resolution in the National Assembly to fire Prosecutor General Kim Ki Chun, who is supervising the case against Kim.

Later Saturday, addressing an outdoor rally of 20,000 supporters in the western port of Inchon, Kim pledged to launch “the strongest possible” anti-government campaign.

He accused Roh of distracting the country from the tasks of democratization, reunification of North and South Korea and dealing with problems left by Roh’s predecessor, Chun.

“When I think of this series of events and the rainbow-like dreams of the people . . . I am angered and grieved to see those dreams shattered,” he said.

3 Indicted on Friday

Kim and two other members of his party were indicted Friday. They were accused of failing to report to authorities about an illegal visit to North Korea by National Assemblyman Suh Kyong Won, then a member of Kim’s party.

Suh has been jailed on charges of violating national security laws, espionage and accepting $120,000 from agents of the Communist country.

Prosecutors accuse Kim of breaching foreign exchange regulations by accepting $10,000 from Suh, which they allege was part of a handout from Pyongyang agents.

“The government says I received $10,000. Whether $10,000 or 10 cents, I am promising you, the people, I never received any money from Suh Kyong Won,” Kim said to thunderous applause and cries of “Bring down Roh Tae Woo!” from supporters.

Kim Dae Jung, who ran unsuccessfully for president in 1971 and 1987, has denied he had advance knowledge of Suh’s trip in August, 1988. He says the government is attacking him in an effort to discredit the political opposition.

To Launch Petition Drive

Kim said his party, joining with other opposition forces, will begin a nationwide petition drive in September to press for more democracy and will organize rallies in 27 cities to denounce political repression.

Kim Young Sam, head of the opposition Reunification Democratic Party, criticized the indictment of Kim.

“The Suh case should be thoroughly investigated, but it is nonsense to indict the head of an opposition party simply for failing to report it to authorities,” he told a news conference.

His group is the second-largest opposition party. Both Kims ran for president in 1987 during a feud among opposition forces, splitting the opposition vote and allowing Roh to win the presidency without a majority.

National security laws forbid unauthorized travel to North Korea, which South Korea has viewed as an enemy since the peninsula was divided in 1945. The two Koreas fought a war in 1950-53 and never signed a peace treaty.

In another development, about 350 radical students and families of political prisoners held a peaceful rally at Korea University in Seoul to denounce the Roh government. They accused authorities of stepping up persecution of political dissenters.