S. Korean Lawmakers Express Hope for Closer US Ties

South Korean lawmakers Wednesday congratulated U.S. President Barack Obama on his inauguration and expressed hope that the two nations will work closely in addressing the North Korean nuclear issue.

"We hope for the prosperity of both nations through the ratification of a free trade agreement and improved joint efforts in dealing with the North Korean nuclear issue," Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun, spokesman for the ruling Grand National Party (GNP), said in a statement.

In his inauguration speech Tuesday, Obama, without naming any country in particular, vowed to engage enemies as well as friends to resolve nuclear threats and to use power prudently to regain the United States' global credibility.

GNP Rep. Hwang Jin-ha, a member of the parliament's foreign affairs and trade committee, said he expects the Obama administration to develop a "healthy leadership" in dealing with global affairs and to further strengthen U.S. ties with South Korea.

Rep. Song Min-soon of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), a former foreign minister, called upon the South Korean government to "fine-tune" with the U.S. a plan to bring North Korea into the international community.

Obama pledged during his campaign to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and other leaders of rogue states without preconditions.

DP spokeswoman Rep. Kim Yoo-jung positively evaluated Obama's bid to talk directly to North Korea and said the U.S. president's open engagement policy will weaken the negotiating power of Seoul's Lee Myung-bak administration.

"President Lee should more carefully listen to the voices of opposition parties and the people, who are calling for a change to his hardline stance on North Korea," Kim said in a statement.