The south Korean warship "Cheonan" was sunk suddenly while staging war maneuvers against the DPRK in March 2010. Traitor Lee Myung Bak took the "May 24 step" for confrontation with the DPRK, by groundlessly linking the case with it.

This step which was aimed at totally blocking cooperation and exchange between the north and the south has caused huge damage to south Korean businesses.

On August 13 the Measure Committee for Lifting the "May 24 Step" demanded the authorities institute a law whose keynote is compensation for damage and early lifting of the step. But the "Ministry of Unification" rejected the demand on August 21, asserting that the step is to demand the north take responsible steps as regards the "Cheonan" warship sinking case and prevent the recurrence of similar case.

In this regard the measure committee on August 27 accused the authorities' step, saying it is unreasonable to overlook the demand of the victims.

That day the Committee for Promoting South-North Economic Cooperation held an open legislative hearing for compensation for the losses in south-north economic cooperation at the hall of members of the "National Assembly".

Speakers said that those businesses which took part in economic cooperation and exchange with the north are saddled with debts, suffering gruesome pain due to the authorities' step. The "government" should certainly compensate for the loss investment enterprises suffered, they noted.