최저임금법 개정안 본회의 통과...'판문점 선언' 결의안은 무산<br /><br /> Rival parties managed to get several dozen bills passed today,... including a revision to the minimum wage law.... but were unable to vote on a resolution supporting the inter-Korean summit declaration.<br />Next on their plate: re-electing lawmakers to key parliamentary posts.<br />But that process is likely to be put off until after the June elections... raising concerns of a parliamentary vacuum.<br />Kim Min-ji has the latest from the National Assembly. <br /> Rival parties failed to hold a vote on a resolution in support of the inter-Korean summit agreement,... called the Panmunjom Declaration during a plenary session Monday.<br /> They had initially agreed to do so,... however, were unable to narrow their differences over the specifics.<br /> The ruling Democratic Party of Korea wanted to use the phrase "realization of a Korean Peninsula free of nuclear weapons through complete denuclearization."<br />However, the main opposition Liberty Korea Party, called for a stronger statement -- the "complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of North Korea's nuclear program."<br />This means the resolution will have to wait for some time to be passed... as Monday was the final plenary session of the first half of the 20th National Assembly.<br /><br /> But lawmakers did make some progress,... passing over 80 pending bills.<br />Although most of them passed smoothly without much opposition,... an amendment to the minimum wage bill was approved amid heated debate.<br /> The proposal was met with resistance, though,... some arguing that it undermines the effect of this year's minimum pay hike of over 16 percent.<br /><br /> Lawmakers will now conclude the first half of parliament's four-year term on Tuesday -- and have alot of re-electing to do for key parliamentary posts, including National Assembly Speaker.<br />It's been customary for the party with the largest number of seats in parliament to chose the speaker,... and ruling party has selected a candidate -- although a vote has yet to be held.<br />However, the main opposition party wants to put off the vote until after the by-elections that will be held on June 13th -- as there could be a shift in which party holds the most seats.<br />The ruling party currently holds 118 seats,... while the main opposition has 113.<br /><br /> "It seems that for the next few weeks or so,... the National Assembly will be without a speaker -- and with the terms of most key positions in the parliament expiring on Tuesday -- there are concerns that the legislature could be headed for paralysis. Kim Min-ji, Arirang News." <br />
