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정홍원 국무총리는 28일 국가정보원 대선개입 의혹 수사와 관련, "정부는 국정원 댓글을 포함한 일련의 의혹에 대해 실체와 원인을 정확히 밝힐 것"이라며 "책임을 물을 것이 있다면 결코 주저하지 않을 것"이라고 말했다.
정 총리는 이날 오전 10시 정부서울청사에서 발표한 '경제와 현안에 대한 국민 여러분께 드리는 말씀'에서 "정부는 사법부의 판단과 조사결과가 나오는대로 필요한 조치를 취할 것"이라며 이같이 밝혔다. 새 정부 들어 총리가 대국민 담화를 발표하기는 이번이 처음이다.
이날 정 총리의 담화는 정국에 파장을 던진 국정원 대선개입 의혹 수사 및 외압 논란과 관련, 정부가 '철저하고 공정한 수사'를 하겠다는 각오를 국민을 상대로 직접 피력한 것으로 풀이된다.
특히 박근혜 대통령 입장에선 전날 차기 검찰총장을 내정한 것을 계기로 정 총리의 담화를 통해 철저한 국정원 수사에 대한 의지를 국민과 야당에 우회적으로 피력했다는 해석이 나온다.
이어 정 총리는 "대통령께서는 처음부터 지난 대선에서 국정원으로부터 어떤 도 움도 받지않았고 검찰수사와 함께 국정조사를 통해 제기된 의혹들에 대해 철저히 조사해 잘못에 책임을 묻겠다는 뜻을 분명히했다"며 "나아가 역대 어느 정부보다도 강 도높은 국정원 개혁을 하겠다는 점도 밝혔다"고 말했다.
또 "믿고 기다려 주시길 부탁드린다"며 "재판과 수사가 진행중인 이 문제로 더 이상의 혼란이 계속된다면 결코 국민경제에 도움이 되지 않을 것이라는 생각에 이렇게 호소드린다"고 담화 발표의 배경을 밝혔다.
이어 정 총리는 경기회복에 대한 기대감을 언급하면서 "어렵게 살아나고 있는 경기회복의 불씨를 살려 경기회복 흐름이 추세적으로 이어질 수 있도록 모든 역량을 최대한 집중해 나가야한다"며 "지금 국회에 계류중인 경제활성화와 민생경제 관련 법안들이 하루라도 빨리 처리될 수 있도록 국회와 정치권의 협력이 절대적으로 필요 하다"고 강조했다.
이와 관련, 정 총리는 ▲외국인투자촉진법안 ▲크루즈산업지원법안 ▲창업지원법안 ▲벤처기업육성법안 ▲자본시장법안 ▲소득세법안 및 주택법안 등을 거론하며 "경제를 살리고 국가미래를 견인하는데 여야가 따로 있을 수 없다. 국회가 이번 회 기내 이러한 법안들을 조속히 처리해주기를 다시한번 간곡히 부탁드린다"고 말했다.
정 총리는 "과거 정권 때부터 매년 지적되기만 하고 제대로 고쳐지지 않은 공공기관의 방만한 운영과 국민 혈세낭비 사례들, 복지부정 수급을 비롯한 각종 비리와 도덕적 해이 등 고질적 문제들에 대해 실질적인 개선대책을 세워 확실히 바로잡고 정상화할 것"이라고 약속했다.
<관련 영문 기사>
Prime minister vows to reveal truth in NIS scandal
By Choi He-suk
Prime Minister Chung Hong-won on Monday said that the government would get to the bottom of the alleged election interference by the spy agency, calling on political parties to end their wrangling over the issue and focus on the economy and crucial national agenda.
“The government will uncover the truth and the cause behind the series of allegations including the National Intelligence Service’s online comments,” Chung said in his first address to the public.
He reiterated that President Park Geun-hye received no help from the NIS in her campaign. The government will not hesitate to punish those responsible once the investigation and trials are complete, he added.
Saying that economic recovery should take priority, Chung went on to urge the political parties to quickly process economy-related bills including those aimed at stimulating foreign investment and tourism.
The main opposition Democratic Party, however, criticized the prime minister, saying that the statement appeared to be a ploy to “water down” the situation, and that his understanding of the state of affairs was “pathetic.”
The DP also honed in on Chung’s use of the word “still” in referring to the fact that the political arena continues to be mired in developments that took place before the presidential election.
“What is the reason that conflict and confusion are ‘still’ being caused by the NIS’ online comments and NLL controversies? The public wants to trust (the government) and wait, but waiting is not possible looking at today’s Cheong Wa Dae and the government,” DP spokesperson Rep. Bae Jae-jeung said. The NLL refers to the Northern Limit Line ― the de facto inter-Korean maritime border in the West Sea, which late President Roh Moo-hyun has been accused of conceding to Pyongyang by the ruling Saenuri Party.
“(The public) wants the president to personally order the NIS and other government organizations to be independent, and to show the determination to prevent recurrences. (The president) should not ignore the chance provided by the opposition party and the public.”
In addition, alleged election interference by the military’s Cyber Command also continued to make ripples across the political arena.
According to the DP, a number of Cyber Command officials were involved in a systematic effort to mar the opposition candidate’s campaign. The concerned officials, however, have since stated that the online postings were their personal opinions.
The Ministry of National Defense is currently conducting an investigation into the allegations.
Along with alleged election meddling, the DP has honed in on Park’s recent personnel choices, accusing the president of regional bias in naming high-level officials.
The prime minister, prosecutor general nominee Kim Jin-tae, Board of Audit and Inspection chief nominee Hwang Chan-hyun as well as presidential Chief of Staff Staff Kim Ki-choon and senior civil affairs secretary Hong Kyung-shik come from South Gyeongsang Province.
“Far from being unbiased, personnel management in Cheong Wa Dae, Cabinet and (legal and audit) authorities are becoming increasingly skewed towards a specific region. A new PK-era has opened,” DP floor leader Rep. Jun Byung-hun said. PK refers to Busan and Gyeongsang provinces.
“Of the high-level officials at the four major authorities including the prosecution, police and the National Tax Service, 41 percent are from a specific region. (Park’s) promise of grand-integration is extinct.”
(cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)
Prime minister vows to reveal truth in NIS scandal
By Choi He-suk
Prime Minister Chung Hong-won on Monday said that the government would get to the bottom of the alleged election interference by the spy agency, calling on political parties to end their wrangling over the issue and focus on the economy and crucial national agenda.
“The government will uncover the truth and the cause behind the series of allegations including the National Intelligence Service’s online comments,” Chung said in his first address to the public.
He reiterated that President Park Geun-hye received no help from the NIS in her campaign. The government will not hesitate to punish those responsible once the investigation and trials are complete, he added.
Saying that economic recovery should take priority, Chung went on to urge the political parties to quickly process economy-related bills including those aimed at stimulating foreign investment and tourism.
The main opposition Democratic Party, however, criticized the prime minister, saying that the statement appeared to be a ploy to “water down” the situation, and that his understanding of the state of affairs was “pathetic.”
The DP also honed in on Chung’s use of the word “still” in referring to the fact that the political arena continues to be mired in developments that took place before the presidential election.
“What is the reason that conflict and confusion are ‘still’ being caused by the NIS’ online comments and NLL controversies? The public wants to trust (the government) and wait, but waiting is not possible looking at today’s Cheong Wa Dae and the government,” DP spokesperson Rep. Bae Jae-jeung said. The NLL refers to the Northern Limit Line ― the de facto inter-Korean maritime border in the West Sea, which late President Roh Moo-hyun has been accused of conceding to Pyongyang by the ruling Saenuri Party.
“(The public) wants the president to personally order the NIS and other government organizations to be independent, and to show the determination to prevent recurrences. (The president) should not ignore the chance provided by the opposition party and the public.”
In addition, alleged election interference by the military’s Cyber Command also continued to make ripples across the political arena.
According to the DP, a number of Cyber Command officials were involved in a systematic effort to mar the opposition candidate’s campaign. The concerned officials, however, have since stated that the online postings were their personal opinions.
The Ministry of National Defense is currently conducting an investigation into the allegations.
Along with alleged election meddling, the DP has honed in on Park’s recent personnel choices, accusing the president of regional bias in naming high-level officials.
The prime minister, prosecutor general nominee Kim Jin-tae, Board of Audit and Inspection chief nominee Hwang Chan-hyun as well as presidential Chief of Staff Staff Kim Ki-choon and senior civil affairs secretary Hong Kyung-shik come from South Gyeongsang Province.
“Far from being unbiased, personnel management in Cheong Wa Dae, Cabinet and (legal and audit) authorities are becoming increasingly skewed towards a specific region. A new PK-era has opened,” DP floor leader Rep. Jun Byung-hun said. PK refers to Busan and Gyeongsang provinces.
“Of the high-level officials at the four major authorities including the prosecution, police and the National Tax Service, 41 percent are from a specific region. (Park’s) promise of grand-integration is extinct.”
(cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)
