Six of the main presidential candidates met in their first televised debate Thursday night, in which they discussed their North Korean policies, as well as launched attacks against leading Grand National Party’s (GNP) Lee Myung-bak for suspicions surrounding the BBK scandal.

The six candidates were United New Democratic Party’s (UNDP) Chung Dong-young, GNP’s Lee Myung-bak, independent candidate Lee Hoi-chang, liberal Democratic Labor Party’s Kwon Young-ghil, Democratic Party’s Rhee In-je, and Renewal of Korea Party’s Moon Kook-hyun.

The main candidates discussed policies related to politics, diplomacy, national security, reunification and others.

The issues of North Korea’s denuclearization and the ROK-U.S. alliance were also hotly debated. UNDP’s Chung bashed Lee Myung-bak and Lee Hoi-chang for their so-called confrontational North Korean policies.

GNP’s Lee Myung-bak said he would persuade the North Korean leader that giving up nuclear weapons will work in favor of the country, while Lee Hoi-chang emphasized the importance of reciprocity and abiding by strict rules in the denuclearization process.

Labor Party’s Kwon Young-ghil called for a departure from the ROK-U.S. alliance, while Democratic Party’s Rhee In-je said he will resolve the nuclear issue within the six-party framework. Moon Kook-hyun emphasized the need for collective resolution of the issue while promoting a joint-economic belt zone.

The candidates will hold their second debate Tuesday on social issues, education, women’s rights and culture, and their third round on December 16th to discuss economics, labor, public welfare, science and other fields.

The five minor candidates will hold a separate debate on Thursday.

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