By Kim Tae-gyu
BERN, Switzerland ― President Park Geun-hye is showing few signs of changing her position on North Korea and Japan.
Arriving here Sunday after a state visit to India, she is expected to turn up the pressure on Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the World Economic Forum (KEF) in Davos and may also use it as a platform to tell the world how she distrusts Pyongyang.
She made herself clear on the North in India, Saturday, before her departure.
"The North is staging propaganda offensives so we must be on full alert in preparation of possible provocations," Park said.
Last week, the North proposed to take a set of measures including the "cessation of slander" between the two Koreas and demanded the cancellation of a regular annual military exercise between Seoul and Washington.
Otherwise, it warned that the tensions on the Korean Peninsula may end up in a nuclear holocaust.
Some regarded it as major improvement from early last year when Pyongyang made relentless verbal attacks ― even threatening preemptive nuclear strikes. Yet, the government instantly rejected the so-called "peace" suggestion, urging the Stalinist regime to give up its nuclear program first.
Her comments are also in line with the stance of the Ministry of Unification, which effectively turned down the rare offer.
In response, Pyongyang vowed to show its commitment through actions but Park did not buy the promises.
"It is a very dangerous approach that the North carries out such a maneuver without accepting our proposal for the reunion of separated families," said Park who took power early last year.
"If the North wants talks and peace between the two Koreas, it must show a sincere attitude such as actions for denuclearization."
Last September, the two rivals were scheduled to hold a reunion of families separated by the Korean War (1950-53). But the North unilaterally delayed what would have been the first such an event in three years for dubious reasons just four days before it was scheduled to take place.
Park repeatedly took the case as an example of the belligerent country's callous disregard for global norms.
During a press conference early this month, Park also proposed to have a family reunion on the occasion of the Lunar New Year that falls on January 31 but the North brushed it off.
"North Korea tends to initiate peace campaigns just before making provocations. It is our historic experience," a Cheong Wa Dae official said. "Park took this into consideration."
Against this backdrop, analysts point out that the North would have to make notable steps to make a breakthrough such as holding a family reunion or showing a positive stance on denuclearization.
However, few expect the North will embrace such drastic changes in the near future.
BERN, Switzerland ― President Park Geun-hye is showing few signs of changing her position on North Korea and Japan.
Arriving here Sunday after a state visit to India, she is expected to turn up the pressure on Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the World Economic Forum (KEF) in Davos and may also use it as a platform to tell the world how she distrusts Pyongyang.
She made herself clear on the North in India, Saturday, before her departure.
"The North is staging propaganda offensives so we must be on full alert in preparation of possible provocations," Park said.
Last week, the North proposed to take a set of measures including the "cessation of slander" between the two Koreas and demanded the cancellation of a regular annual military exercise between Seoul and Washington.
Otherwise, it warned that the tensions on the Korean Peninsula may end up in a nuclear holocaust.
Some regarded it as major improvement from early last year when Pyongyang made relentless verbal attacks ― even threatening preemptive nuclear strikes. Yet, the government instantly rejected the so-called "peace" suggestion, urging the Stalinist regime to give up its nuclear program first.
Her comments are also in line with the stance of the Ministry of Unification, which effectively turned down the rare offer.
In response, Pyongyang vowed to show its commitment through actions but Park did not buy the promises.
"It is a very dangerous approach that the North carries out such a maneuver without accepting our proposal for the reunion of separated families," said Park who took power early last year.
"If the North wants talks and peace between the two Koreas, it must show a sincere attitude such as actions for denuclearization."
Last September, the two rivals were scheduled to hold a reunion of families separated by the Korean War (1950-53). But the North unilaterally delayed what would have been the first such an event in three years for dubious reasons just four days before it was scheduled to take place.
Park repeatedly took the case as an example of the belligerent country's callous disregard for global norms.
During a press conference early this month, Park also proposed to have a family reunion on the occasion of the Lunar New Year that falls on January 31 but the North brushed it off.
"North Korea tends to initiate peace campaigns just before making provocations. It is our historic experience," a Cheong Wa Dae official said. "Park took this into consideration."
Against this backdrop, analysts point out that the North would have to make notable steps to make a breakthrough such as holding a family reunion or showing a positive stance on denuclearization.
However, few expect the North will embrace such drastic changes in the near future.
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