By Shin Hyon-hee
President Park Geun-hye on Thursday reiterated calls for North Korea to renounce its nuclear and missile programs that pose a critical obstacle to the security of the peninsula and the world.
In her Armed Forces Day address, she also stressed her resolve to help rebuild the North’s impaired economy if it chooses talks over a military standoff.
“North Korea must cease immediately its development of nuclear weapons and long-range ballistic missiles that has jeopardized the fate of our people and set hurdles for world peace,” Park said at a ceremony marking the 67th anniversary of the founding of South Kora’s military in its headquarters in Gyeryongdae, South Chungcheong Province.
“As long as North Korea adheres to nuclear weapons, its isolation will only deepen, and no path will be open for economic development. ... If it comes out for dialogue instead of confrontation, the Republic of Korea and the international community will provide active support for its economic reconstruction.”
Her renewed warnings came about a week ahead of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of Pyongyang’s ruling Workers’ Party, around which the Kim Jong-un regime is widely anticipated to test a long-range rocket or atomic device or stage other major provocation.
Tension is showing no signs of abating, especially as the two Koreas are gearing up for a reunion of families displaced by the 1950-53 Korean War starting Oct. 20 in line with a high-level agreement in late August. The communist country threatened to call off the plan after Park warned against another provocation and criticized its nuclear ambitions.
As some 700 military executives and rank-and-file servicemen attended, the president cheered on their work, including their stringent response to the North’s land mine and artillery attacks in August.
“The security environment is extremely grave surrounding the peninsula. The intelligible patriotism of you soldiers and the people’s united sense of security are the most pivotal foundation of our defense power and the best weapon,” Park said.
In a separate message, Defense Minister Han Min-koo praised the military’s contribution to the peace of not only the peninsula, but also the globe, such as through increasing peacekeeping operations and reconstruction activities.
“We have built true peace and prosperity on the peninsula based on airtight military readiness and deterrence against the North,” he said.
“Now we are elevating the national prestige and contributing to world peace, with 1,039 of our soldiers taking part in peacekeeping operations and reconstruction support in 13 countries around the world.”
(heeshin@heraldcorp.com)