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Park expresses hope for improved inter-Korean ties
By Korea HeraldPublished : Feb. 28, 2012 - 19:25
Rep. Park Geun-hye, the leader of the ruling Saenuri Party, on Tuesday expressed her hopes for improved inter-Korean ties, stressing that her party is willing to support efforts for a change in the North for peace and co-development on the Korean Peninsula.
During a security forum in Seoul, she also underscored that a nuclear-armed North Korea is not acceptable, saying that the vision of a “nuclear-free” world should begin here.
Her remarks came on the day the North issued an unusual criticism against the conservative party’s leader, saying that she beautifies her father’s dictatorship and revives remnants of the autocratic rule.
Experts say the criticism appears intended to tarnish her political standing ahead of general and presidential elections this year. Her father, Park Chung-hee, took power in a 1961 military coup and ruled the country until his assassination in 1979.
“Our North Korea policy should evolve in a future-oriented direction while maintaining consistency based on public consensus,” she said during the forum hosted by the Korean Association of International Studies.
“In order to quickly restore the relations that have been strained due to the sinking of the Cheonan and the shelling of Yeonpyeongdo and enter the direction of sustainable peace and co-development, I and my party are willing to support efforts for a change in the North.”
Referring to the bilateral pacts on peaceful cooperation, which were signed during the past administrations, Park proposed that the two Koreas start “the trust process for the Korean Peninsula.”
“We should carry out the ‘trust process’ for the Korean Peninsula so that we can make the North a responsible member of the international community and build trust from South Korea and the neighboring states,’ she said.
“The process should start from making good on our bilateral promises. The basic spirits of the pacts are to recognize each other and seek peace here.”
She was referring to the three pacts on inter-Korean cooperation for peace, security and other issues, which were signed on July 4, 1972; June 15, 2000; and Oct. 4, 2007, respectively.
While making it clear that the two Koreas should recognize and respect each other, she said that there should not be any more military provocations under any circumstances.
She also said that should the North capitalize on the neighboring countries’ expectations after the death of its former leader Kim Jong-il, it could grab a chance to make progress on the denuclearization issue and address its economic travails.
By Song Sang-ho(sshluck@heraldcorp.com)
During a security forum in Seoul, she also underscored that a nuclear-armed North Korea is not acceptable, saying that the vision of a “nuclear-free” world should begin here.
Her remarks came on the day the North issued an unusual criticism against the conservative party’s leader, saying that she beautifies her father’s dictatorship and revives remnants of the autocratic rule.
Experts say the criticism appears intended to tarnish her political standing ahead of general and presidential elections this year. Her father, Park Chung-hee, took power in a 1961 military coup and ruled the country until his assassination in 1979.
“Our North Korea policy should evolve in a future-oriented direction while maintaining consistency based on public consensus,” she said during the forum hosted by the Korean Association of International Studies.
“In order to quickly restore the relations that have been strained due to the sinking of the Cheonan and the shelling of Yeonpyeongdo and enter the direction of sustainable peace and co-development, I and my party are willing to support efforts for a change in the North.”
Referring to the bilateral pacts on peaceful cooperation, which were signed during the past administrations, Park proposed that the two Koreas start “the trust process for the Korean Peninsula.”
“We should carry out the ‘trust process’ for the Korean Peninsula so that we can make the North a responsible member of the international community and build trust from South Korea and the neighboring states,’ she said.
“The process should start from making good on our bilateral promises. The basic spirits of the pacts are to recognize each other and seek peace here.”
She was referring to the three pacts on inter-Korean cooperation for peace, security and other issues, which were signed on July 4, 1972; June 15, 2000; and Oct. 4, 2007, respectively.
While making it clear that the two Koreas should recognize and respect each other, she said that there should not be any more military provocations under any circumstances.
She also said that should the North capitalize on the neighboring countries’ expectations after the death of its former leader Kim Jong-il, it could grab a chance to make progress on the denuclearization issue and address its economic travails.
By Song Sang-ho(sshluck@heraldcorp.com)
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Articles by Korea Herald
