Park Geun-hye stresses security as cornerstone of national happiness

The ruling Saenuri Party's presidential candidate Park Geun-hye said Monday that security is the foundation for achieving national happiness and pledged she would make the country safe from threats.

In a speech delivered at a forum arranged by the country's reserve officers' training corps association, the five-term lawmaker made clear that if national security is threatened, everything else will crumble.

"Without strong security and defense, there can be no economic growth, unification with North Korea, or for that matter, a future for the country," the 60-year-old contender who won her party's presidential ticket last month said.

Park, who is the daughter of late President Park Chung-hee and enjoys strong support among conservatives and the older generation, said her stance on national security is resolute.

The late president who ruled the country for 18 years is credited with spurring stunning economic growth and strengthening the country's security, although he is criticized for his iron-fisted rule that cracked down on all forms of dissent.

"I promise to strive for national happiness based firmly on strong defense," she stressed.

Saenuri's candidate for the Dec. 19 poll said that the next few years will decide the fate of the Korean Peninsula.

She said North Korea's nuclear ambitions, arms rivalries between countries such as the United States and China, and differences in how countries view history have all increased uncertainty and pose challenges for the country.

Park added that if she becomes president, she will adhere to a foreign diplomacy program based on "trust" that could be used to draw North Korea and other countries to engage in globally acceptable rules for building up mutual confidence. Such developments she claimed are critical for reducing tensions and misunderstandings.

The politician said based on a firm commitment to national defense, she will follow through on ways to seek improved relations with North Korea and strive for peace and prosperity in the region. (Yonhap)