By Kang Seung-woo
President Park Geun-hye told the police Wednesday to set up plans to maintain public order in the event of unification of the two Koreas.
"The police are required to gradually prepare a roadmap on how to maintain public order ahead of unification on the Korean Peninsula," Park said in a speech during a ceremony to mark the 70th anniversary of Police Day in Seoul.
Park has repeatedly drummed up public interest in peaceful unification between South and North Korea, saying that it would be an economic "bonanza" for the two Koreas as well as a blessing for neighboring countries because it would touch off massive investments in the North, mainly in infrastructure projects.
This is the first time that Park has commented on the need to establish security maintenance plans for a unified Korea.
"Park believes that it is time for the administration, the judiciary and the National Assembly to draw up their own plans in preparation for unification," a presidential aide said. "Park's call for such security plans appears to be part of those efforts."
Cheong Seong-chang, a senior fellow of the Sejong Institute, said that President Park seems to see the necessity of preparation in the event of North Korea's sudden collapse.
"When the two Koreas unite, many North Korean people may come down to the South and it may trigger public disorder," he said.
He added that as there is difference in the police systems between the two Koreas, Park instructed police to study how to combine the two systems when unification takes place.
During her recent speech to the United Nations and summit with U.S. President Barack Obama, Park asked for their cooperation in her vision for unification.
However, the repressive state has reacted sensitively to the unification drive, suspecting that Seoul could be plotting to absorb Pyongyang.
In the speech, Park also said that the police need to come up with plans for the future on the back of its solid performance in the past.
"The police should strengthen their preemptive measures to prevent crimes beforehand and set up a rapid response system," the President said.
She also said that the police should boost efforts to take care of socially vulnerable groups that include children, women and the elderly.
"The pivotal role of the police is necessary in order to thoroughly reform the nation and revive the economy," Park said.
She added that normalizing abnormal practices and systems begins with abiding by the law and principles. Park has pushed for normalizing the abnormal, including deregulation, to resurrect the economy.
Park also called for greater efforts to crack down on increasingly sophisticated crimes, such as financial fraud and cyber crimes.
Stressing the importance of strict law enforcement for national reconciliation and its development, the President voiced appreciation for the police's work which has gained international recognition.
"According to the OECD, Korea was ranked sixth out of its 36 members in terms of safety in 2015 and foreigners visiting Korea also praise the nation's public safety," she said.
She added that thanks to the police's efforts, the death toll from traffic accidents fell below 5,000 in 2014 ― the first time in 37 years ― and the number of violent offenses is on an annual decline.
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| President Park Geun-hye |
"The police are required to gradually prepare a roadmap on how to maintain public order ahead of unification on the Korean Peninsula," Park said in a speech during a ceremony to mark the 70th anniversary of Police Day in Seoul.
Park has repeatedly drummed up public interest in peaceful unification between South and North Korea, saying that it would be an economic "bonanza" for the two Koreas as well as a blessing for neighboring countries because it would touch off massive investments in the North, mainly in infrastructure projects.
This is the first time that Park has commented on the need to establish security maintenance plans for a unified Korea.
"Park believes that it is time for the administration, the judiciary and the National Assembly to draw up their own plans in preparation for unification," a presidential aide said. "Park's call for such security plans appears to be part of those efforts."
Cheong Seong-chang, a senior fellow of the Sejong Institute, said that President Park seems to see the necessity of preparation in the event of North Korea's sudden collapse.
"When the two Koreas unite, many North Korean people may come down to the South and it may trigger public disorder," he said.
He added that as there is difference in the police systems between the two Koreas, Park instructed police to study how to combine the two systems when unification takes place.
During her recent speech to the United Nations and summit with U.S. President Barack Obama, Park asked for their cooperation in her vision for unification.
However, the repressive state has reacted sensitively to the unification drive, suspecting that Seoul could be plotting to absorb Pyongyang.
In the speech, Park also said that the police need to come up with plans for the future on the back of its solid performance in the past.
"The police should strengthen their preemptive measures to prevent crimes beforehand and set up a rapid response system," the President said.
She also said that the police should boost efforts to take care of socially vulnerable groups that include children, women and the elderly.
"The pivotal role of the police is necessary in order to thoroughly reform the nation and revive the economy," Park said.
She added that normalizing abnormal practices and systems begins with abiding by the law and principles. Park has pushed for normalizing the abnormal, including deregulation, to resurrect the economy.
Park also called for greater efforts to crack down on increasingly sophisticated crimes, such as financial fraud and cyber crimes.
Stressing the importance of strict law enforcement for national reconciliation and its development, the President voiced appreciation for the police's work which has gained international recognition.
"According to the OECD, Korea was ranked sixth out of its 36 members in terms of safety in 2015 and foreigners visiting Korea also praise the nation's public safety," she said.
She added that thanks to the police's efforts, the death toll from traffic accidents fell below 5,000 in 2014 ― the first time in 37 years ― and the number of violent offenses is on an annual decline.
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