S. Korea's ruling party seeks ratification of summit declaration

남북정상회담 '판문점 선언' 국회 비준은? In the domestic political arena.The National Assembly, not known to produce much results this year so far, has another urgent task: ratifying the summit declaration.While most members of the parliament agree that needs to be done, the main opposition stands in the way.Kim Min-ji has the latest. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea is seeking to ratify the Panmunjom Declaration that was reached at the inter-Korean summit last week.Ratification would provide a legal framework for the declaration to be enforced,... and would also ensure it stays in effect even if there's a change in government.The declarations reached at two previous inter-Korean summits were not ratified and lapsed after the administration changed. "Our party will be at the forefront of making sure that the Panmunjom Declaration is irreversible and brings actual effects,... and we will look into parliamentary ratification. We will also do our utmost for a successful North Korea-U.S. summit." But the main opposition Liberty Korea Party is not on the same page.The conservative party has claimed the ruling party is putting on a "political show" to win the local elections coming up in June. They're strongly against ratifying the declaration, saying it lacks specifics. "It's not like North Korea dismantled its nuclear arsenal or opened the door to reform. Until a specific roadmap for denuclearization is completed, we must stay level-headed and act with precision." The left-leaning Party for Democracy and Peace and the Justice Party support the proposal for ratification,... as do several lawmakers within the centrist Bareun Mirae Party.Ratification would require a majority of the National Assembly's 293 lawmakers to be present for a floor vote... and then a majority to vote in favor of it. However, ratification may have to wait a while -- as the National Assembly remains at a standstill.Rival parties failed to reach an agreement on Monday to get parliament moving again,... as they are still at odds over a number of pending bills,... and an online opinion-rigging scandal involving a ruling party lawmaker. For now, it seems they will leave the April session, which ends on Tuesday, empty handed,... and it remains to be seen whether they can manage to agree on convening an extraordinary session for May.Kim Min-ji, Arirang News.