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Staff Reporter
President Lee Myung-bak's remarks on North Korea in his New Year speech Friday would not have impressed Pyongyang, which wants a U-turn from what it calls a hawkish stance.
Lee reiterated his previous position by saying, ``South-North relations should be resolved smoothly with a more flexible and mature attitude.''
He added, `` It is about time the South and North overcame confrontation and conflict and opened a new age of cooperative coexistence and co-prosperity. I hope that North Korea will be able to read the change of the times and forge ahead with us for a bright future.''
``I am willing to engage in dialogue with the North at any time and am ever ready to cooperate with it as a partner. It is my earnest wish that the North will unshackle itself from old, outmoded tactics of instigating conflict within the South and will come forward with a cooperative attitude,'' the president said.
But he failed to mention anything regarding what Pyongyang demands as a precondition for resuming inter-Korean dialogue.
Lee said that despite economic challenges, Korea has been making major strides on the foreign policy front.
He spoke about several policy advances during his watch, including improved relations with Washington; the first-ever trilateral summit of leaders from South Korea, China and Japan; free trade agreements that will likely be put into action with major markets in the coming months; and Korea's growing leadership role in international communities including the OECD and the G-20. The President also promised to thaw the chilly relations between the two Koreas, but offered few concrete details on how he might improve inter-Korean ties that have plunged to their lowest level in a decade since he took office last February.
On Korea's foreign policy achievements, ``even during this global economic crisis, Korea's opportunities are increasing in the international community,'' Lee said during the 20-minute speech that was broadcast live across the country.
He noted that for a while Korea-U.S. relations had been less than desirable, but ``since the administration took over, the two countries have made agreements on the Visa Waiver Program as well as currency swap lines. Bilateral ties are being reborn as a strategic alliance,'' he said.
Lee noted the significance of the first-ever Korea-China-Japan summit that took place last month. ``For a long time, it was said that it would be impossible to gather the leaders of Korea, China and Japan in one place. However, with Korea's initiative, the trilateral summit was held for the first time. A new era of cooperation has dawned in Northeast Asia that has gone through an age of conflict for the past 100 years.''
He also spoke of the stronger economic partnerships with other major nations. ``Korea has concluded an agreement with Russia that provides for the installation of railways and gas pipelines running through Korea and Russia. A grand, historic project linking the Korean Peninsula and the Siberian region is playing out.''
Korea is also poised to conclude free trade pacts with the European Union and India this year while developing more markets in Central and South America, he said. ``The pragmatic diplomacy based on national interest that I have employed since my inauguration has begun to bring about good results.''
Further, Korea will see its leadership continue to grow in international meetings. The nation ``will carry out its duties as a co-chair of the G-20 nations from this year,'' Lee noted. ``In the OECD, Korea has been chosen as chair of the 2009 Ministerial Council Meeting.''
President Lee also expressed his administration's desire to see a more cooperative relationship develop between the two Koreas.
There will likely be more hurdles, though, before Seoul and Pyongyang can get on better terms. President Lee, a pro-U.S., conservative politician, continues to maintain a tough approach toward North Korean denuclearization. He may also be at odds with President-elect Barack Obama, who takes office later this month, and has previously suggested that his administration would be open to holding direct talks with Pyongyang in addition to the ongoing six-nation dialogue.
michaelha@koreatimes.co.kr
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