Political parties are grilling Prime Minister Chung Hong-won and other Cabinet members about diplomatic, unification and security issues in a parliamentary interpellation session Tuesday.

During a morning session, Saenuri Party Rep. Chung Moon-hun said that the upcoming inter-Korean government-level talks should focus on the suspended Gaeseong Industrial Park, resumption of tours to North Korea’s Mount Geumgang, and reunions of separated families. The prime minister responded by saying that the safety of South Korean people is the most important factor to consider in dealing with those issues.

Regarding the recent repatriation of nine young North Koreans from Laos, Democratic Party Rep. Shim Jae-kwon criticized the government for failing to devise measures in advance to ensure the safety of North Korean escapees in the Southeast Asian country. He noted that more than 90 percent of North Korean escapees make stopovers in Laos after fleeing from their poverty-stricken home country.

The prime minister answered that although it is not directly related to the latest repatriation, a South Korean bill on improving human rights in North Korea will be helpful for aiding North Korean escapees. The bill is pending at the National Assembly.