Rival lawmakers passed several dozen bills,... including a revision to the minimum wage bill on the last plenary session of the first half this year. <br />But a resolution supporting the inter-Korean summit declaration was not put up for a full floor vote as the parties are still at odds over the specifics.<br />Kim Min-ji reports.<br /> <br /> Rival parties failed to 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"... while the main opposition Liberty Korea Party, called for a stronger statement -- the "complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of North Korea's nuclear program."<br /> The resolution will now have to wait for some time to be voted on... 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 got the greenlight without much opposition,... an amendment to the minimum wage bill was approved amid heated debate.<br />The proposal calls for bonuses and benefits of a certain size to be calculated as part of the minimum pay,..<br /> It would affect regular bonuses worth more than 25 percent of the minimum monthly salary of 1-point-5-7 million won -- about 15-hundred U.S. dollars -- and welfare benefits if they're worth more than 7 percent.<br />The proposal was met with resistance as some argued that it would undermine the effect this year's minimum pay hike.<br /><br /> Lawmakers will now conclude the first half of parliament's four-year term on Tuesday -- and have to 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 />
