 Rep. Park Geun-hye, former chairwoman of the governing Grand National Party (GNP), talks about her views on the government’s policy toward North Korea at the National Assembly, Thursday. She said Seoul needs to effectively use “carrots and sticks” to achieve meaningful improvement in inter-Korean relations. / Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-keun |
South Korea should upgrade its policy toward North Korea in a way that effectively mixes "carrots and sticks," a potential leading presidential contender of the ruling party said Thursday.
In an apparent move to prepare for the 2012 presidential election, Rep. Park Geun-hye of the governing Grand National Party (GNP) told reporters that Seoul needs to adopt a balanced approach toward Pyongyang by using both tough and soft measures.
“We have to be tougher when we need to be tough, and softer when we need to be soft so as to gain a balance between security and exchange," she said, highlighting the differences in her strategy toward the communist regime.
Park, the eldest daughter of the late President Park Chung-hee, has long been considered the front-runner for next year's presidential race with her support level around 30 percent.
When asked about the North’s two attacks on the South, which killed 50 people last year, Park said “meaningful” improvement in inter-Korean relations would be difficult “unless the North takes measures acceptable to South Koreans.”
As for the possible redeployment of U.S. tactical nuclear weapons if Pyongyang conducts another nuclear test, she said it would not be the “best alternative.”
“I believe that a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula must be realized for future generations," she said, noting that advancements in technology make it possible that the location of tactical nuclear weapons does not matter much.
The former GNP leader also expressed support for a multibillion-dollar gas pipeline project shipping Siberian gas to the South via the North, saying the joint project would contribute greatly to promoting peace and building trust between the two Koreas.
This was the first time for Park to speak to the press on her assessment of the current Lee Myung-bak administration’s North Korea policy.
Park suggested that the South should adopt a new strategy to build trust with Pyongyang and cooperate with regional powers in her recent article on national security for the U.S. bimonthly journal Foreign Affairs.
“If North Korea undertakes additional nuclear tests, South Korea must consider all possible responses in consultation with its principal ally, the United States, and other key global partners," the four-term lawmaker wrote. “Even if Seoul must respond forcefully to Pyongyang's provocations, it must also remain open to new opportunities for improving.”
In the contribution she also hinted that she would pursue a more flexible approach compared with the Lee administration's hard-line policy.
"A lack of trust has long undermined attempts at genuine reconciliation between North and South Korea," she said. "Peace between the two Koreas will not be possible without a combined effort."
![[INTERVIEW] Virtual K-pop group MAVE: is more than just pretty pixels](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/bcc387606cf7451c94f51a5978960c9f.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
