Main opposition party announces new policy objectives on NK

Korea's main opposition party announced a set of policy goals on North Korea Thursday that calls for dismantling Cold War tensions on the divided peninsula through a peace treaty and diplomatic recognition of the communist nation.

The liberal-leaning Democratic United Party accused the conservative government of President Lee Myung-bak of disrupting inter-Korean ties through hard-line policies and wiping out progress made under former liberal presidents.

"Looking at the government's policy on North Korea, we are feared as if we are going through a tunnel so dark that its end is not in sight," said the opposition party chairwoman, Han Myeong-sook.

The opposition party's move came a couple of months ahead of April's general elections.

Its new policy objectives include seeking a peace treaty with North Korea and establishing diplomatic relations between the North and the U.S. and between the North and Japan; seeking economic prosperity through enhanced economic cooperation with the North.

The opposition party also called for launching regular talks between the prime ministers of the two Koreas so as to follow up on the 2000 agreement reached in the first-ever inter-Korean summit, seeking parliamentary talks with the North and resuming humanitarian aid to the impoverished nation. (Yonhap)