President goes 2-track on NK

President Park Geun-hye pays her respects to the national flag along with Prime Minister Chung Hong-won, right, and other Cabinet members ahead of her first Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, Monday. / Korea Times photo by Koh Young-kwon

'No mercy on misdeeds; trust process to go on'

By Kim Tae-gyu

President Park Geun-hye pledged a stern reaction to any provocations from North Korea, Monday, but at the same time stressed the need of keeping a “trust process” on track during her first Cabinet meeting.

“The new government’s core policy is the establishment of the foundation for peace and unification. We must sternly deal with North Korea’s provocations, but we should not stop our efforts to keep the trust process operational,” Park said.

Her emphasis on “trustpolitik” which calls for engagement with the North came as the reclusive regime is ratcheting up its bellicose threats in retaliation for international sanctions imposed in response to its third nuclear test on Feb. 12.

“If we are to get North Korea to give up its nuclear program and to make the right choice, we need to prioritize close cooperation with the international community,” she said.

Park also asked her Cabinet members to take all necessary steps for the safety of South Korean workers at a joint industrial complex in Kaesong, just north of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).

In the meantime, regarding the protracted National Assembly impasse over her government restructuring bill, Park lamented the state of the nation’s “dysfunctional politics.”

She attributed the prolonged deadlock over the bill to vested interests, indirectly slamming the main opposition Democratic United Party (DUP) for halting its passage.

“It has been reiterated that politics should take its lead from the people. But politics is heading nowhere due to bickering over vested interests,” Park said.

“It is a time to reconsider whether politics stands for the public. For the future of the country, small differences should be ironed out … Please pass the restructuring bill quickly for the people and the nation.”

She dismissed speculation that her campaign pledges would not be fulfilled because of inadequate funds and once again confirmed that the promises will be fulfilled without any tax increases.

To secure required funds of 134.5 trillion won, Park promised to extend the tax net to reach the underground economy as well as crack down on criminals who rake in undue profits at the expense of ordinary people.

The President added that budgetary expenditures and mega-sized projects including the previous Lee Myung-bak administration’s flagship four-river program will be scrupulously inspected to ensure value for money.

“The Board of Audit and Inspection came revealed its investigation results on the four-river project in January and the National Assembly passed a request to review some suspicious bidding practices,” Park said.

“To do away with budgetary waste and clear public suspicion, it has to be checked thoroughly.”

Due to the parliamentary deadlock on the retooling bill, Park could not convene a Cabinet meeting for two straight weeks after she took office on Feb. 25.

This was the first time the regular meetings did not take place in more than a decade.

After appointing 13 ministers out of a total of 17 posts Monday, two vice ministers from the previous administration participated in the meeting to meet the legal requirement of at least 15 members.

The remaining four ministerial positions will be filled soon after the confirmation hearings finish at the Assembly with the sole exception of the minister of future planning and science.

After the original nominee Kim Jeong-hoon resigned earlier this month citing the parliamentary quagmire, Park has yet to propose a replacement.

Another thorny issue is whether to appoint the Defense Minister-designate Kim Byung-kwan for whom the National Assembly failed to finalize confirmation results after strong opposition from the DUP.

Cheong Wa Dae is considering appointing him today despite mounting questions about his suitability for the position.

Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon took part in the meeting, expressing his willingness to cooperate with the new administration.