By Kim Young-jin
Staff reporter
President Lee Myung-bak expressed hope Monday that China and Russia will join the international condemnation of North Korea for the deadly sinking of the warship Cheonan and demanded an apology from his country’s northern rival.
"I do believe that China and Russia, both of them are responsible countries," Lee said in an interview with U.S. network ABC that aired Monday, his first with Western media since the sinking on March 26.
"And that is why I have full confidence that both China and Russia and their leaders will continue to engage in this discussion in a fair and very objective manner," he added.
Seoul referred the incident to the U.N. Security Council (UNSC) action after a multinational investigation concluded that a North Korean submarine had torpedoed the vessel, costing 46 lives. Pyongyang claims the findings were fabricated.
Despite strong support from the United States, Japan and many other countries, Seoul’s campaign for international censure has been hindered by lukewarm responses from China and Russia, veto-holding members of the UNSC with traditional ties to the North.
In a meeting with Lee on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit, Sunday, Chinese President Hu Jintao expressed concern but fell short of blaming the North over the sinking.
Russia held out against directly blaming Pyongyang in the G-8’s statement condemning of the incident, which was issued Saturday. Experts say Moscow is reluctant to levy sanctions for fear of instability in the North.
Pyongyang ratcheted the tension up a notch Monday, pledging to bolster its nuclear deterrent in response to “hostile U.S. policy.”
Still, President Lee advocated a peace-first policy.
"Our ultimate national vision and objective is to achieve peaceful reunification," he said in the interview. "But, of course, for all this to happen, North Korea must first apologize" for the sinking.
Lee emphasized the need for the continued presence of 28,500 American service members in South Korea to deter hostility from the North.
"If there is going to be another military confrontation to happen here on the peninsula, that will gravely threaten, not only the peace and security of the peninsula, but of the entire northeast Asian region as a whole," he said.
He also mentioned that the troop presence provides Washington with a strategic foothold in economically vibrant Northeast Asia.