Cheong Wa Dae accuses former president of fostering conflict

SEOUL, June 12 (Yonhap) -- The country's presidential office Cheong Wa Dae strongly denounced former President Kim Dae-jung Friday, accusing him of trying to incite conflict between the government and the people.

The direct attack against the former liberal leader came one day after Kim, 84,
said he was concerned about a possible collapse of the country's democracy,
poignantly adding references to past "dictators."
"I say this with firm conviction that both the people and the Lee Myung-bak
administration will meet only misfortune if President Lee and the government
continue to walk down the road they are on now," the former president said in a
ceremony marking the ninth anniversary of his meeting with North Korean leader
Kim Jong-il in the first-ever inter-Korean summit.
He stressed that citizens and the government must remember how the country
overcame past dictators to build and restore democracy.
"Let us have a conscience that acts. A conscience that does not act is on the
side of evil," he said.
Lee Dong-kwan, spokesman for the presidential office, said the former leader's
remarks were "extremely inappropriate" and regrettable.
"Most of all, I believe it is very regrettable that a former head of state, who
should work to unite the people and guide the nation in the right direction, is
instead confusing the public and creating rifts with inappropriate remarks," the
Cheong Wa Dae spokesman said during a press briefing.