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SKorea to stand firm despite NKorea threats: president
Seoul (AFP) Feb 9, 2009 South Korea will stand firm in its policy towards North Korea despite a series of threats from the communist state, President Lee Myung-Bak said Monday, urging people to stay calm despite the rhetoric. "I am very aware there are people who are concerned about the recent series of North Korean threats. But you do not need to worry too much," the president said in his regular radio address. "The government is ready to sit down with North Korea at any time and resolve every issue," Lee said. North Korea late last month announced it was scrapping peace accords with the South, including a 1991 pact in which it recognised their Yellow Sea border as an interim frontier. The announcement fuelled fears of clashes in the area, which was the scene of bloody naval battles in 1999 and 2002. Inter-Korean relations have steadily deteriorated since the conservative president took office in Seoul in February last year. Lee rolled back his liberal predecessors' decade-long engagement policy towards Pyongyang, and said major economic assistance would depend on the North's willingness to scrap its nuclear weapons programme. He also vowed to review summit deals signed in 2000 and 2007 between the North and his predecessors. The policy has enraged the North, which has suspended dialogue, imposed tight border controls and warned that armed conflict could break out. In its latest verbal attack, the North Sunday said Lee's choice for unification minister would cause relations to collapse. The criticism came on the eve of a parliamentary confirmation hearing Monday for Hyun In-Taek, an architect of Lee's tougher policy. Lee said his government would not make the same mistake as its predecessors by rushing into dialogue without questioning Pyongyang's intentions. "I believe it is better to start off with a little difficulty, but ensure things are set right to reach a positive outcome, instead of trying to figure out what North Korea wants while saying all is well that ends well," he said. "We are ready to work with North Korea. North Korea, too, must realise the South is the only country in the entire world that is sincerely concerned for its future and willing to help it," Lee said. Share This Article With Planet Earth
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US army chief tells NKorea to stop provocations
Seoul (AFP) Feb 9, 2009The US military chief in South Korea told North Korea Monday to stop provocations and "act like a responsible country," amid reports the communist state is preparing a long-range missile test. |
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