President Park Geun-hye said Tuesday that she will meet with the chiefs of leading political parties as soon as possible and positively consider making such meetings regular, gesturing toward more dialogue with the incoming opposition-dominated National Assembly.

While vowing to communicate closely with the opposition camp for the sake of economic revitalization, Park also reiterated her regret over the legislative underachievement of the outgoing parliament, largely holding the opposition responsible for the pending bills.

“I will meet with leaders of the (top) three political parties as soon as possible after my visit to Iran (next week),” the president said at a luncheon meeting with some 46 chief editors of major local newspapers and broadcasters.

“I will also consider holding such meetings on a regular basis, if necessary.”

Key presidential aides, led by Chief of Staff Lee Byung-kee and Senior Secretary for Policy Coordination Hyun Jung-taik, attended the event.

The occasion -- the first of its kind in three years -- was taken as the state leader’s move to promote communication with the public and to preemptively respond to the looming lame duck label.

Much in contrast to her New Year’s address in January, which triggered criticism on her lack of communication skills, the president spent ample time listening to the media chiefs’ opinions and freely answered their questions.

The meeting comes in the aftermath of the April 13 general election, in which the ruling conservative Saenuri Party failed to secure parliamentary majority and slipped to the No. 2 party.

“We may consider a ruling-opposition-government consultative body so as to discuss and solve key issues,” Park said, stretching out a hand to The Minjoo Party of Korea and the People’s Party, which together hold a majority in the forthcoming legislature.

But she also blamed the opposition parties for holding back a series of economic revitalization and labor reform bills, which the presidential office and the Saenuri saw as crucial remedies to the nation’s sluggish economy.

“Even as president, there was little I could do,” Park said, referring to the outgoing 19th National Assembly which failed to reach a compromise on the pending bills, due to opposition backlash.

“I believe that it was because of (resistance to such legislative deadlock) that the people chose to replace the conventional two-party frame into a new tripartite one, hoping to boost cooperation and power balance.”

She was referring to the runner-up opposition People’s Party which rose as a new parliamentary bargaining unit by sweeping 38 legislative seats, 23 of them won in the Minjoo’s longtime stronghold constituencies.

As for ongoing speculations that Cheong Wa Dae may carry out a cabinet reshuffle as part of self-reform efforts, the president said that the option was currently not under consideration.

Park also reiterated her strong-handed policy regarding the increasing military threats from North Korea.

“Should North Korea implement a fifth nuclear test, we will introduce more powerful restrictive measures, in close partnership with the United States and China,” she said.

“Despite doubts, China has been actively participating in the U.N. resolution (against the North’s nuclear weapons).”

By ignoring the repeated warnings of the international community and continuing its provocations, North Korea will be bringing destruction upon itself, she added.

South Korea has recently upped its alert against a possible nuclear test by the communist neighbor, given its launch of a submarine-launched ballistic missile, as well as more provocative remarks from leader Kim Jong-un.

To a question on the Dec. 28 deal with Japan to resolve the sex slavery issue, Park indicated that the opposition’s emphasis on Tokyo’s reported demand to have a comfort women statue removed from its location near the Japanese Embassy in Seoul was tainting the issue.

“(The statue) was never even mentioned in the agreement. ... As we have reached an agreement after much difficulty ... we must enable the follow-up measures to take place as soon as possible,” she said.

With regard to the controversial reinstatement of state-authored history textbooks, Park said that history education so far has been criticized for its biased nature and the current textbooks would eventually lead to South Korea being absorbed by the North.

By Bae Hyun-jung (tellme@heraldcorp.com)