Lee to reveal stern countermeasures to Cheonan today

By Lee Tae-hoon

Staff reporter

President Lee Myung-bak will issue a statement today that outlines the "stern measures" that Seoul will take against Pyongyang over the sinking of a South Korean warship on March 26, a top presidential aide said Sunday.

Lee is mulling mentioning the name of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il in his nationally televised speech, Lee Dong-kwan, senior presidential secretary for public relations, told reporters.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Yu Myung-hwan, Minister of National Defense Kim Tae-young and Minister of Unification Hyun In-taek will also hold a joint news conference to announce details of Seoul's reaction to the naval incident, he said.

"The President will express his intent to take strong countermeasures against the North's provocation and urge the North to take responsibility," the secretary said. "President Lee will also address Seoul's position on seeking unilateral retaliation and international cooperation, such as bringing the case to the U.N. Security Council."

As to condemning North Korean leader Kim in the speech, the secretary said it may be likely but had yet to be decided.

"The President may mention Kim Jong-il in his speech, but he has yet to finalize the text," the aide said.

He said President Lee will make it clear that Seoul will take "firm action" over future provocations by the North.

Observers said the remark hints at taking military action against the communist North's provocations.

Lee will also express Seoul's position on the joint Gaeseong Industrial Complex, which houses some 120 South Korean firms in the border town of the North.

"He will express the need to take a cautious approach on the Gaeseong issue," the secretary said.

An international team of investigators announced Thursday that a North Korean submarine was responsible for the sinking of the Cheonan, which took the lives of 46 sailors.

They said the submarine was believed to have sneaked through international waters into the West Sea two or three days before the attack.

Investigators provided what they called decisive evidence to prove North Korea's involvement in the tragedy.

They displayed parts of the propulsion system of the torpedo collected from the site of the sinking and said the remains matched the size and shape of specifications on a blueprint of a North Korean torpedo.

오늘 침몰 대응책 발표

이명박 대통령은 오늘 천안함 침몰 관련 북한에 취할 “엄정한 조치”에 대한 구체적인 사항을 발표할 예정이라고 청와대 보좌관이 밝혔다.

전국에 생중계되는 대국민 담화에서 이 대통령은 김정일 북한 김정일 국방위원장을 거명할 것을 신중히 고려 중이라고 이동관 홍보수석이 기자들에게 전했다.

유명환 외교통상부 장관과 김태영 국방장관 그리고 현인택 통일부 장관도 합동 기자회견을 열어 해군함정 침몰에 대한 한국측 반응을 세부적으로 밝힐 예정이다.

이 수석은 “북한의 도발행위에 대한 강력한 대응조치를 취하고 북에 응분의 책임을 촉구할 의지를 내비쳤다”며 “이 대통령은 한국 단독 그리고 이 사건을 유엔 안전보장회의에 회부하는 등 국제 공조체제를 구하는 정부의 입장을 밝힐 것”이라고 말했다.

연설에서 김정일의 비난 관련, 이 수석은 가능성은 있지만 아직 결정이 나지는 않았다고 말했다.

이 보좌관은 “대통령이 연설에서 김정일은 언급할 수 있으나 본문이 아직 확정되지 않았다”고 말했다.