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."
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."
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