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Thu, October 5, 2023 | 08:06
Park urges N. Korea to join hands for unification
朴대통령 "통일은 北간부ㆍ주민에 새 기회…통일동참 바란다"
Posted : 2016-08-15 16:30
Updated : 2016-08-16 11:25
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President Park Geun-hye urged North Koreans to join hands for unification, Monday, saying South Korea is ready to offer them a chance to pursue happiness and get fair and equal treatment.

This was her message to ordinary citizens and officials in North Korea on the occasion of the 71st anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule (1910-45).

She also called for the North Korean regime to halt its nuclear development and military provocations and stop abusing human rights, saying its "anachronistic" moves go against peaceful unification.

"For ordinary citizens and officials in North Korea, unification will provide a new opportunity through which all of you can freely display your talent without suffering any discriminations and disadvantages," Park said during a ceremony to commemorate Liberation Day in Seoul.

"I ask you to join in opening the new era of a unified Korea where fear of nuclear weapons and war will be gone and human values will be respected."

Park warned that the Kim Jong-un regime's international isolation and economic hardship will only accelerate if it continues to pursue its nuclear ambitions.

She said the repressive state should not "ignore human rights and living conditions of its people any longer, adding "We'll not turn our face away from those who suffer because of wrong choices made by the North Korean authorities."

"They also should drop anachronistic attempts against peaceful unification. We'll offer North Korean authorities a chance to move toward peace and prosperity if they make the right choices and work in a sincere manner," Park said.

No division over THAAD

Concerning China's protest against a planned deployment of U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery in South Korea, Park reaffirmed that it is a defensive measure against North Korea's military threats.

"We are asked to think strategically and pull out all abilities nationwide to cope with latest developments in international politics, especially changes in the security of Northeast Asia," she said. "We should break out of a victim mentality that our fate will be determined by regional powers and instead lead our relationships with neighbors actively and reciprocally."

She called for a future-oriented relationship between South Korea and Japan, saying it is important for Japan to face up to history first to make meaningful changes.

These remarks came after Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida promised to pay 1 billion yen ($9.8 million) to South Korea last week as early as possible in line with a bilateral agreement in December to help former Korean sex slaves during Japanese colonial rule.

Park also spoke about domestic issues, including the sluggish economic recovery.

She said finding new economic growth engines and also reforming the labor market and education industry will be critical to bolstering the economy.

Park promised that the government will lend support to enterprise restructuring and in innovating research and development to encourage companies to increase their investment and create more jobs.

Regarding pending labor reform bills, she said parliamentary approval will be essential for "the survival of the country" amid the oppositions' claims that they will only benefit conglomerates.

"It's for future generations. Our society may collapse if the related parties continue to blame each other."

Listing popular South Korean products, Korean pop culture and the latest raise in South Korea's credit rating, the President said South Korean should be more proud of their nation.

"There have been spreading fallacies that belittle our nation and describe it as a place where people can hardly make a living," she said. "We should revive our spirit of challenge, adventurism and optimism."


朴대통령 "통일은 北간부ㆍ주민에 새 기회…통일동참 바란다"

박근혜 대통령은 15일 '북한 당국의 간부들과 모든 북한 주민 여러분, 통일은 여러분 모두가 어떠한 차별과불이익 없이 동등하게 대우받고 각자의 역량을 마음껏 펼치며 행복을 추구할 수 있는 새로운 기회를 제공할 것'이라고 밝혔다.

박 대통령은 이날 세종문화회관에서 열린 제71주년 광복절 경축식에 참석, 경축사를 통해 이같이 말하고 '핵과 전쟁의 공포가 사라지고 인간의 존엄이 존중되는 새로운 한반도 통일시대를 열어가는데 동참해 주시기 바란다'고 호소했다.

박 대통령의 이 같은 언급은 북한 김정은 정권의 최고위층이 아닌 간부와 주민들에게 이례적으로 직접 통일의 비전과 미래상을 제시한 것이다. 이는 북한 최고위층과 주민에 대해 차별적인 메시지를 전달한 것으로, 향후 대북 관계에서 새로운 접근 방식을 예고한 게 아니냐는 관측도 조심스럽게 나온다. 

청와대 관계자는 '북한 주민에게 통일이 희망이 될 수 있는 만큼 변화에 동참해달라는 당부의 메시지를 내놓은 것으로 보인다'고 말했다. 

이와 함께 박 대통령은 '오늘 제71주년 광복절을 맞아 북한 당국에 촉구한다'면서 ▲ 핵개발 및 도발위협 중단 ▲ 북한주민 인권보호 ▲ 시대착오적 통일전선 시도 중단 등 3가지 사항을 요구했다.

박 대통령은 '핵무기를 비롯한 대량살상무기 개발과 대남도발 위협을 즉각 중단하기 바란다'며 '우리 국민을 위협하고, 대한민국을 위협하기 위한 어떤 시도도 결코 성공할 수 없을 것이다. 하면 할수록 국제적 고립은 심화되고, 경제난만 가중될 것'이라고 경고했다.

박 대통령은 '북한 당국은 더이상 주민들의 기본적 인권과 최소한의 인간적 삶을 영위할 권리를 외면하지 않아야 할 것'이라며 '우리는 북한 당국의 잘못된 선택으로 고통 속에 있는 북한 주민들의 참상을 외면하지 않을 것'이라고 못 박았다.

또한, '사회 혼란과 갈등을 야기하려는 시대착오적인 통일전선 차원의 시도도 멈추기 바란다'며 '북한 당국이 올바른 선택을 하고 진정성 있는 자세로 나온다면 우리는 언제라도 평화와 공동번영으로 나아가는 기회를 제공할 것'이라고 말했다.

박 대통령은 사드(THAADㆍ고고도 미사일 방어체계) 배치를 둘러싼 동북아 안보지형 변화에 대해선 '우리의 운명이 강대국들의 역학관계에 의해 결정될 것이라는 피해의식과 비관적 사고를 떨쳐내야 한다'고 밝혔다.

박 대통령은 '작금의 국제정세, 특히 동북아 지역의 안보지형 변화는 우리에게 엄중한 대응 자세를 요구하고 있다. 그 어느때 보다 우리의 전략적 사고와 국가적 역량 결집이 절실하다'며 '우리가 한반도와 동북아 평화 번영의 주역이라는 책임감을 갖고 주변국과의 관계를 능동적이고 호혜적으로 이끌어 나가야 한다'고 말했다.

이는 사드배치에 대한 중국의 반발 등을 놓고 국가안보를 위한 자위적 조치라는 점을 분명히 하면서 당당하게 대응해 나가겠다는 의지를 반영한 것으로 풀이된다.

한일관계에 대해선 '역사를 직시하는 가운데 미래지향적인 관계로 새롭게 만들어 나가야 할 것'이라며 '지금 우리에게 필요한 것은 막연한 기대가 아니라 냉철한 현실 인식에 바탕을 둔 선제적이고도 창의적인 사고'라고 말했다.

아울러 박 대통령은 '언제부터인지 우리 내부에서는 대한민국을 부정적으로 묘사하는 잘못된 풍조가 퍼져가고 있다'며 '위대한 현대사를 부정하고 세계가 부러워하는 우리나라를 살기 힘든 곳으로 비하하는 신조어들이 확산되고 있다'고 지적했다

이어 '법을 불신하고 경시하는 풍조 속에 '떼법 문화'가 만연하면서 사회적 비용이 증가하고 대외경쟁력까지 실추되고 있다'며 '자기비하와 비관, 불신과 증오는 결코 변화와 발전의 동력이 될 수 없다'고 경고했다.

박 대통령은 '이제 다시 대한민국 발전의 원동력이었던 도전과 진취, 긍정의 정신을 되살려야 한다'며 ''할 수 있다'는 용기와 자신감을 갖고 '함께 가는' 공동체 의식으로 함께 노력하면 우리는 할 수 있다'고 강조했다.

박 대통령은 주요 국정과제와 관련, '신산업 창출과 노동개혁, 교육개혁을 해내는 것이 중요하다'고 강조한 뒤 '국민모두가 자신의 기득권을 조금씩 내려놓고 노동개혁의 물꼬를 트는 데 동참해 주실 것을 간곡히 부탁드린다'고 말했다. (연합뉴스)
Emailyistory@ktimes.com Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
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