By Na Jeong-ju
President Lee Myung-bak urged Cabinet ministers and the presidential staff Tuesday to share a sense of crisis to counter North Korea’s military threats, saying national security is the No. 1 priority for all ministries.
“We should always keep in mind that we’re confronting the world’s most belligerent nation,” Lee said during the first Cabinet meeting since Pyongyang’s deadly artillery attack on Yeonpyeong Island last week.
“But there seems to be a perception that dealing with a national crisis is a task for only the defense ministry. In a divided nation, national security is a matter of all ministries.”
The remarks came amid public criticism over the military’s alleged poor initial response to the shelling, which killed two civilians and two marines as well as destroyed dozens of civilian homes on the island, located just south of the western sea border.
After the meeting, Lee attended a ceremony held at Coex in southern Seoul to mark the country’s 47th Trade Day.
“Despite the North Korean threats, we will attain the goal of becoming the world’s seventh-largest trader in 2015,” the President said in a congratulatory speech.
“I believe the image and status of our country will improve quickly thanks to the successful hosting of the G20 summit.”
According to the Korea International Trade Association, Korea’s exports are expected to jump over 28 percent this year to a record high of over $460 billion and more than 11 percent next year to reach $520 billion.
It will also see a 14 percent increase in imports to $480 billion in 2011, becoming the world’s ninth country to join the $1 trillion trade club, the association said.
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