Seoul: The parliamentary intelligence committee cancelled its planned plenary session Friday, stalling the adoption of a confirmation hearing report on Lee Jong-seok, the nominee to lead the National Intelligence Service. The committee had been scheduled to hold a plenary meeting to discuss the report's adoption, following a confirmation hearing for Lee held the previous day.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Rep. Lee Seong-kweun of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), who is a member of the committee, informed reporters that it would be difficult to adopt the report on the scheduled day. The opposition lawmaker attributed the cancellation to "unresolved suspicions" regarding Lee's views on North Korea and national security. Additionally, he linked the cancellation to his party's complaints about the manner in which the ruling Democratic Party and the government are handling affairs in the National Assembly.

During the confirmation hearing on Thursday, PPP lawmakers expressed concerns that Lee, a former unification minister and former deputy national security adviser, held a policy stance that was too lenient and submissive towards North Korea. Meanwhile, the ruling party defended Lee's expertise on North Korean and security issues.