Korea- Lee urges nations’ fair, responsible role over nukes- 01-03-2011

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/01/116_79061.html

01-03-2011 15:51 Lee urges nations’ fair, responsible role over nukes

President Lee Myung-bak delivers a nationally televised New Year speech at Cheong Wa Dae Monday with presidential staffers attending. Lee said he will give top priority to national security and economic growth this year. / Korea Times `Door for dialogue is still open’ By Na Jeong-ju President Lee Myung-bak urged the six countries involved in talks to denuclearize North Korea, Monday, to play a fair and responsible role to remove the “enormous threat” to peace, saying Seoul is ready for economic cooperation with Pyongyang if it shows sincerity in resolving this issue. Lee also said he will place top priority on national security and economic growth this year to lay a firm foundation for South Korea to become an advanced and more powerful country while countering one of the world’s most belligerent nations. To that end, the government will focus on enhancing the quality of life for the working class and developing better welfare policies to prepare for the trend of an aging society, said the conservative leader, who turned 70 last month. “North Korea’s nuclear weapons development constitutes an enormous threat not only to peace on the Korean Peninsula but the entire world,” Lee said in a nationally televised New Year address, outlining his government’s policy goals for this year. “The international community needs to work together to persuade the North to abandon its nuclear program and start on a path toward common prosperity. It is imperative now more than ever for countries concerned to play a fair and responsible role.” He called on North Korea to abandon its military adventurism, saying, “The door for dialogue is still open.” “I remind the North that the path toward peace is still open. If the North exhibits sincerity, we have both the will and a plan to drastically enhance economic cooperation together with the international community,” Lee said. Last year, inter-Korean military tension peaked following North Korea’s torpedo attack in March on a South Korean Navy vessel, which killed 46 sailors, and its shelling in November of a border island, which left two civilians and two marines dead. It was the first attack on civilians since the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce without a peace treaty. Lee said last month he will strengthen diplomacy with the North’s traditional allies — China and Russia — to address its provocative acts and as part of efforts to chart a roadmap for reunification of the two Koreas in the event of a collapse of the Kim Jong-il regime. Especially Beijing, the biggest aid provider for Pyongyang, has been facing mounting calls from Seoul and Washington to act more responsibly and fairly in handling the North’s recent aggression and nuclear development. Lee reiterated that he would step up the country’s defense reform to enhance combat readiness. “Any provocation that poses a threat to our lives and property will not be tolerated. Such provocations will be met with stern, strong responses,” he said. “From now on, we need to establish and carry out peace and reunification policies based on solid national security.” As for economic policies, he said he will pursue free trade agreements (FTAs) with China and Japan more actively, and increase support for the development of science and technology this year so that the Year of the Rabbit will be another successful year for the Korean economy. “The fine tuning of the FTA with the United States last year will mark both a symbolic and actual occasion to turn Korea into an international trading hub nation,” Lee said. “This year, we will carefully but with speed work on free trade negotiations with China and Japan.” Since international trade accounts for 82 percent of Korea’s total output, Lee said the country has to have a national strategy of expanding its global markets through FTAs. Lee also noted that the country’s fast transition toward an aging society requires better welfare policies. “We have already entered an era when we must plan ahead for a life expectancy of 100 years,” Lee said. “Aging is not just about the quantitative extension of life expectancy. Rather, it is about qualitative changes in our lifestyles and patterns.” He pledged to come up with comprehensive measures and strategies this year that encompass job opportunities, education, welfare, culture, physical health, social services and safety. Lee set three policy goals in addressing family-related affairs this year.