President Lee Myung-bak |
By Na Jeong-ju
Staff Reporter
President Lee Myung-bak pledged Monday to step up efforts to make a breakthrough in stalled inter-Korean relations, saying the two Koreas should establish dialogue channels first.
In his New Year's address, Lee also urged North Korea to return to the six-party talks aimed at dismantling its nuclear program, saying he expects Pyongyang to take a path of cooperation and dialogue this year.
``We should create a turning point for relations with North Korea,'' Lee said in the nationally televised speech. ``The North should rejoin the six-party denuclearization talks first to revive inter-Korean economic cooperation. Most of all, the two Koreas should set up dialogue channels.''
Lee also said Seoul is willing to start a joint project with Pyongyang to excavate the remains of South Korean soldiers who perished during the 1950-53 Korean War.
The suggestions came amid expectations that the two Koreas may push for a third summit this year.
In its own New Year's message, North Korea stressed the need for warmer ties with South Korea, saying that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the first inter-Korean summit held in Pyongyang.
``Unshakable is our stand that we will improve the relations with the South and open the way for national reunification,'' the North's state-owned newspapers said in a joint editorial issued Jan. 1. The Chosun Sinbo, a pro-Pyongyang newspaper in Japan, also reported that the editorial portends a ``dramatic event'' this year, adding speculation over a much-anticipated summit.
The two Koreas have held two summits: the first in 2000 during the administration of President Kim Dae-jung, and the second in 2007 under President Roh Moo-hyun. Both summits were held in Pyongyang ― the North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has yet to pay a promised reciprocal visit to the South.
Lee recently said he is ready to meet the North Korean leader ``anytime and anywhere'' to resolve the protracted nuclear standoff.
In the address, Lee also said he would focus on strengthening diplomatic relations with countries all over the world, particularly Asian and African countries, taking advantage of Korea's hosting of the G20 Summit, slated for November in Seoul.
To become a more responsible member of the international community, the government is seeking to raise overseas development assistance to poor countries and increase its participation in the U.N.'s peace-keeping missions in conflict areas, he said.
The global outreach initiative is one of three policy goals Lee suggested Monday for the administration to press ahead with throughout this year.
The other two are reform programs to increase economic vitality and policies to improve the lives of ordinary people.
``The government's top national policy agenda in 2010 is to revive the economy and at the core of this is creating jobs,'' said the CEO-turned-President.
Lee said the administration will make all-out efforts to end emergency economic measures within the first half of this year and make low-income people feel the effects of economic recovery in the latter half.
jj@koreatimes.co.kr
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무디스, 스페인·伊·포르투갈 신용등급 강등
