EARLY EDITION 18:00 Nat'l Assembly back on track after main opposition halts boycott

ARIRANG NEWS 18:00 Title: Nat′l Assembly back on track after main opposition halts boycott The National Assembly is finally back on track this Monday. This includes the New Politics Alliance for Democracy party, which last week boycotted proceedings in protest over the government′s decision to state-author a history textbook, once again joining in. But possibilities of further bipartisan conflict remain. Park Ji-won has more.e Several of the National Assembly′s standing committees, as well as the special budget committee,... have resumed deliberations on pending bills and budget items this Monday. The budget committee in particular, has a very busy schedule ahead, as it is facing an early December deadline... to complete work on the government′s budget for next year. The committee met just twice last week,... and without the main opposition NPAD since the liberal party boycotted them in protest over the government′s move to re-introduce a state-issued history textbook for secondary schools. But they have returned to parliament to fully assume their responsibilities and take of pressing legislation. The ruling Saenuri Party welcomed the move to normalize parliament. "We′re facing a pileup of current issues, including next year′s budget and the passage of several economy and reform-related bills... We need to end wasteful debates on history education and focus on bipartisan cooperation to push policies." The main opposition NPAD remains adamantly against the government′s decision to bring back state-issued history textbooks, but now it′s taking a two-track approach. While the liberal party will cooperate on legislative duties,... it plans to continue protesting the issue. And their concern and criticism continued on Monday. "The current administration is trying to enforce conformist history education on our children... but it is going to destroy students′ creativity." Meanwhile, leaders of the main rival parties,... together with National Assembly Speaker Chung Ui-hwa,... agreed to honor the deadline that was set for redrawing electoral districts ahead of next year′s general elections, which ends this Friday. Park Ji-won, Arirang News. Title: South Korea, Iceland hold talks in Seoul President Park Geun-hye hosted visiting Icelandic President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson at the presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae Monday. According to our Kwon Soa, the two agreed on deepening their bilateral partnership,... and on stronger cooperation in the Arctic. The first ever visit to South Korea by an Icelandic President,... since diplomatic ties were established in 1962... has resulted in the two countries′ leaders agreeing on deeper bilateral ties,... and strengthening cooperation in the Arctic region. According to the presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae Monday,... President Park and President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson laid out groundwork for shortening the trade route between Europe and Asia,... in a bid to save c