What the F . . . . ?

South Korean President Roh Moo0-Hyun is offering his “conservative” archenemies key roles in his proposed coalition. This, you must see:

In a letter to his political supporters, President Roh Moo-hyun wrote yesterday that if the opposition Grand National Party would agree to form a coalition government with the Uri Party, he would allow his opponents to make key appointments, including that of prime minister.

“If the Grand National Party takes the initiative to form a coalition government where the Uri Party participates, I’ll transfer my power to that coalition government,” Mr. Roh wrote.

The president said, “Such a coalition is possible with a cabinet that takes power in what would be tantamount to a parliamentary system of government, not a presidential system.” Mr. Roh then defined his suggestion as an “actual offer to change the regime.” But he did not go so far as to suggest amending to the Constitution to create a parliamentary system.

I’m sure Kim Jong Il has fissionable isotopes that are more stable that this coalition would be. Predictably, virtually no one likes this idea. Someone help me make sense of this. I’m almost too stunned to compute it. Imagine Bill Clinton offering to give Newt Gingrich Al Gore’s job after the Republicans swept the 1994 elections. Is there are rational reason for Roh to do this? Or is expecting a rational reason from Roh like expecting consistency from John Kerry, or eloquence from George W. Bush?

Update: The Flying Yangban has you covered.