Korea's rival opposition leaders OK sharing reins

SEOUL South Korea's rival opposition leaders have agreed toshare power, including equal stakes in a future Cabinet, no matterwhich of them becomes their party's presidential candidate this fall,Kim Dae Jung and Kim Young Sam said in separate interviews over thelast two days.

The competition of the two Kims, a subject of major importancein Korea's drive toward direct presidential elections, was describedby both contenders as under control after a series of meetings overthe last six weeks.

Both candidates said their agreement to share ministerial postsbetween their separate factions dates back to last December, wellbefore the tumultuous events of June ended in government acceptanceof their demand for direct elections.

Seoul newspapers and political observers give the oppositionReunification Democratic Party a serious chance of winning such adirect election, which would be the first popular balloting forpresident since Kim Dae Jung narrowly lost in 1971.

But Kim Dae Jung, in an interview Tuesday, said there arereports that some military leaders, and perhaps President Chun DooHwan, are not reconciled to the drive toward direct elections, whichChun steadfastly opposed before conceding to opposition pressure June29.

"The one thing that is unclear is Chun's attitude," he said. "Weare watching his attitude with concern."

A senior aide to Chun said in a separate interview Wednesdaythat the president supports the June 29 reforms announced by Roh TaeWoo, presidential candidate of the ruling Democratic Justice Party.But the aide acknowledged there had been "no prior discussion" aboutthe measures between Chun and Roh, who is one of the president'sclosest associates.

The aide said Roh believed "there were some elements in theruling party and government" that opposed his two most controversialproposals, direct election of the president and restoration ofpolitical rights to Kim Dae Jung after years of imprisonment andhouse arrest.

The aide seemed to signal a campaign that will include someharsh charges against the opposition.