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남북정상회담 회의록 유출 의혹 사건을 수사 중인 검찰은 다음주부터 김무성, 정문헌, 서상기 의원을 차례로 소환 조사할 계획이라고 8일 밝혔다.
김 의원과 정 의원은 정상회담 회의록 유출 의혹으로, 서 의원은 국정원 회의록 공개와 관련해 각각 민주당으로부터 고발을 당했다. 남재준 국가정보원장도 고발됐다.
김 의원은 지난해 대통령선거 유세에서 회의록 발언을 했으며 서 의원은 국정원 회의록을 공개할 당시 국회 정보위원장을 지냈고 정 의원은 정보위 소속이다.
서울중앙지검 공안1부(최성남 부장검사)는 김 의원 등 의원 3명을 각각 피고발인 신분으로 조사할 예정이다. 근거 법률에 따라 엄격히 제한적으로 공개돼야 할 회의록 보관본이 불법적으로 열람•유출됐는지가 핵심이다.
이진한 중앙지검 2차장은 "김 의원의 경우 서면조사한 뒤 소환 조사 시기 등을 검토할 예정이었지만 김 의원 측에서 서면조사 없이 소환 조사에 응하겠다는 입장을 전해와 그 시기를 조율하고 있던 상황이었다"고 설명했다.
이 차장은 "(구체적) 일정을 말해줄 수는 없지만 다음주부터 순차적으로 부를 예정"이라며 "의원들도 소환에 응하겠다는 의사를 전해왔다"고 말했다.
김무성 의원의 경우 지난해 말 새누리당 대선후보캠프 총괄선대본부장을 맡았으며 작년 12월 14일 부산 서면 유세에서 '고(故) 노무현 전 대통령이 남북정상회담에 서 NLL을 포기했다'는 취지의 발언을 해 회의록 유출 논란에 휩싸였다.
김 의원은 당시 회의록 관련 내용을 낭독했으며 해당 내용은 회의록 내용과 조사, 순서 등에서 조금 차이가 있지만 대부분 일치하며 원문의 8개 항목, 744자와 유 사한 것으로 파악됐다.
당시 김 의원은 노 전 대통령이 회담에서 ▲NLL 문제는 국제법적인 근거도 없고 논리적 근거도 분명치 않다 ▲남측에서도 평화협력에 전향적인 태도를 갖고 있다 ▲ 그동안 외국 정상들의 북측에 대한 얘기가 나왔을 때 나는 북측의 대변인 또는 변호 인 노릇을 했다 ▲제일 큰 문제는 미국 등의 발언을 했다고 주장했었다.
그러나 김 의원은 발언 근거와 관련, 자체적으로 만든 문건이며 원문이나 발췌본을 본 것은 아니라고 해명해왔다.
일부 언론은 지난 6월26일 김 의원이 당 최고중진연석회의에서 "지난해 대선을 앞두고 정상회담 대화록을 입수해 읽어봤고 내용이 너무 엄청나서 손이 다 떨렸다", "원세훈(당시 국정원장)에게 대화록을 공개하라고 했는데 협조를 안 해줘 결국 공개를 못했다"는 취지의 발언을 했다고 보도했었다.
또 김 의원이 "당시 비가 추적추적 내리는 오후 3시께 부산 유세에서 그 대화록을 많은 사람들 앞에서 울부짖듯이 쭉 읽었다"고 말했다고 일부 언론이 보도하기도 했다.
그러나 김 의원은 6월27일 "회의에서 문건이라고 얘기했지 원본이라고 말한 사실이 없다"며 "정상회담 대화 내용에 관한 문제를 제기한 정문헌 의원이 말해준 내용과 노무현 전 대통령이 회담 이후 민주평통 행사 등에서 한 NLL(서해 북방한계선) 문제 발언을 종합해 문건을 만들었다"고 해명했다.
또 김 의원은 발언 내용이 대화록과 거의 같다는 지적에 대해서는 "왜 그리됐는지 모르겠다"면서도 "뭐 흡사할 수도 있는 것"이라고 답했고, 문건을 지금도 보유 중인지에 대해서는 "이미 다 공개됐는데 그 보유 여부가 중요한가. 문건은 우리가 자체 작성한 것"이라고 말한 바 있다.
당초 검찰은 민주당이 고발한 인사 중 권영세 주중 대사를 서면조사하고 김무성 의원에게도 서면 조사서를 보낸 것으로 알려져 '형평성' 논란이 일었다.
의혹 사건의 참고인 신분인 민주당 문재인 의원은 출석시켜 9시간여 동안 조사한 반면 피고발인인 여당 중진 의원과 권 대사는 서면조사를 실시, '봐주기 아니냐'는 지적을 받았다.
<관련 영문 기사>
Prosecution to summon Saenuri members over transcript leak
By Song Sang-ho
Prosecutors plan to question three ruling party lawmakers from next week as part of the high-profile probe into the allegations that the transcript of the 2007 inter-Korean summit was illegally leaked last year for electioneering.
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office said Friday that they would summon Saenuri Reps. Kim Moo-sung, Chung Moo-hun and Suh Sang-kee, who have been accused of illegally gaining access to a copy of the transcript.
The plan for the questioning came as the main opposition Democratic Party berated the prosecution, arguing that its investigation was biased based on rumors that prosecutors would question the three only on paper, while summoning senior DP lawmakers including former Presidential candidate Moon Jae-in.
Some 50 DP lawmakers including floor leader Jun Byung-hun visited the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office in protest at what they call a politically biased probe into the allegations.
DP leader Kim Han-gil called for a special investigation by an independent counsel into all allegations that government agencies including the National Intelligence Service were mobilized last year to help then-Saenuri presidential candidate Park Geun-hye.
The transcript of the meeting between then-President Roh Moo-hyun and North Korea’s then-leader Kim Jong-il became central to the political wrangling in the run-up to the December election following accusations that Roh renounced the Northern Limit Line as a de facto maritime border.
The validity of the NLL has been one of the thorniest inter-Korean issues, as Pyongyang disputes it on the grounds that it was drawn unilaterally by the U.S.-led U.N. Command after the end of the 1950-53 Korean War.
On the campaign trail in Busan in December, Rep. Kim Moo-sung, who served as a campaign headquarters chief for Park, mentioned that Roh gave up the NLL during the summit with the North Korean leader.
His remarks led to allegations that Park’s campaign machine had access to the transcript prior to the election, presumably to help turn the tide in favor of Park in a tight race against Moon, the former chief of staff to Roh.
Rep. Chung Moon-hun first started the NLL dispute in October last year amid a heated election campaign, while Rep. Suh Sang-kee was alleged to have illegally read and disclosed part of the presidential document earlier this year.
On Friday, the DP intensified its offensive against the prosecution and ruling block, calling for a fair probe into the allegations -- a move the Saenuri Party dismissed as a political tactic to undermine the legitimacy of President Park’s leadership.
The DP demanded that all allegations including the NIS’ election interference should be investigated by an independent counsel to ensure fairness and transparency.
“We can’t trust the prosecution anymore. The prosecution was extremely biased and typically political,” Kim said during a meeting with senior party members at the National Assembly.
Yoon Sang-hyun, the Saenuri Party’s vice floor leader, criticized the DP, arguing that the call for a special probe appeared aimed at strengthening unity among opposition forces to escalate the offensive against the ruling bloc.
“Investigations are already underway and the court is already deliberating on some of the cases. Thus, these cases are not suitable for a probe by an independent counsel,” said Yoon.
(sshluck@heraldcorp.com)
Prosecution to summon Saenuri members over transcript leak
By Song Sang-ho
Prosecutors plan to question three ruling party lawmakers from next week as part of the high-profile probe into the allegations that the transcript of the 2007 inter-Korean summit was illegally leaked last year for electioneering.
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office said Friday that they would summon Saenuri Reps. Kim Moo-sung, Chung Moo-hun and Suh Sang-kee, who have been accused of illegally gaining access to a copy of the transcript.
The plan for the questioning came as the main opposition Democratic Party berated the prosecution, arguing that its investigation was biased based on rumors that prosecutors would question the three only on paper, while summoning senior DP lawmakers including former Presidential candidate Moon Jae-in.
Some 50 DP lawmakers including floor leader Jun Byung-hun visited the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office in protest at what they call a politically biased probe into the allegations.
DP leader Kim Han-gil called for a special investigation by an independent counsel into all allegations that government agencies including the National Intelligence Service were mobilized last year to help then-Saenuri presidential candidate Park Geun-hye.
The transcript of the meeting between then-President Roh Moo-hyun and North Korea’s then-leader Kim Jong-il became central to the political wrangling in the run-up to the December election following accusations that Roh renounced the Northern Limit Line as a de facto maritime border.
The validity of the NLL has been one of the thorniest inter-Korean issues, as Pyongyang disputes it on the grounds that it was drawn unilaterally by the U.S.-led U.N. Command after the end of the 1950-53 Korean War.
On the campaign trail in Busan in December, Rep. Kim Moo-sung, who served as a campaign headquarters chief for Park, mentioned that Roh gave up the NLL during the summit with the North Korean leader.
His remarks led to allegations that Park’s campaign machine had access to the transcript prior to the election, presumably to help turn the tide in favor of Park in a tight race against Moon, the former chief of staff to Roh.
Rep. Chung Moon-hun first started the NLL dispute in October last year amid a heated election campaign, while Rep. Suh Sang-kee was alleged to have illegally read and disclosed part of the presidential document earlier this year.
On Friday, the DP intensified its offensive against the prosecution and ruling block, calling for a fair probe into the allegations -- a move the Saenuri Party dismissed as a political tactic to undermine the legitimacy of President Park’s leadership.
The DP demanded that all allegations including the NIS’ election interference should be investigated by an independent counsel to ensure fairness and transparency.
“We can’t trust the prosecution anymore. The prosecution was extremely biased and typically political,” Kim said during a meeting with senior party members at the National Assembly.
Yoon Sang-hyun, the Saenuri Party’s vice floor leader, criticized the DP, arguing that the call for a special probe appeared aimed at strengthening unity among opposition forces to escalate the offensive against the ruling bloc.
“Investigations are already underway and the court is already deliberating on some of the cases. Thus, these cases are not suitable for a probe by an independent counsel,” said Yoon.
(sshluck@heraldcorp.com)
