Lee says inter-Korea peace talks still open
Source: Agencies |
January 4, 2011, Tuesday
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SOUTH Korea's president vowed yesterday not to let North Korea "covet even an inch of our territory." But he also opened the door to possible peace talks, saying North Korean disarmament could lead to South Korean economic aid.
In a New Year's speech, Lee Myung-bak said the November 23 shelling of Yeonpyeong Island, which killed four and has spiked fears of war, was a transformational event. Seoul, he said, would treat it as the United States did the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and "overhaul our defense posture."
However, he said, "if North Korea exhibits sincerity, we have both the will and the plan to drastically enhance economic cooperation." Washington and Seoul have demanded that North Korea fulfill past nuclear disarmament commitments before allowing the resumption of stalled international aid-for-disarmament talks.
Still, the overwhelming focus of Lee's comments on North Korea was a tough promise to improve South Korea's defenses and to hit back hard if attacked again.
"The situation before and after the provocation against Yeonpyeong Island cannot be the same," Lee said. "Any provocation that would pose a threat to our lives and property will not be tolerated. Such provocations will be met with stern, strong responses."
After the September 11 terrorist attacks, the US "went back to the drawing board to devise new security and national strategies, because the safety and security of its people had come under threat," Lee said.
"The shelling of Yeonpyeong Island also served as an opportunity for us to reflect on our security readiness and overhaul our defense posture," he said. "There cannot be any delay in establishing security measures."
Despite his strong words, Lee also said peace between the two Koreas is still possible. "The door for dialogue is still open," he said.
Under Lee's conservative government, ties between the two Koreas have slumped.
Since taking office in early 2008, Lee has halted unconditional aid to the impoverished North Korea and linked South Korean assistance to progress in North Korea's disarmament efforts. That stance enraged North Korea, which cut off reconciliation talks and branded Lee "human scum" and a traitor to Korean reunification.
In a New Year's speech, Lee Myung-bak said the November 23 shelling of Yeonpyeong Island, which killed four and has spiked fears of war, was a transformational event. Seoul, he said, would treat it as the United States did the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and "overhaul our defense posture."
However, he said, "if North Korea exhibits sincerity, we have both the will and the plan to drastically enhance economic cooperation." Washington and Seoul have demanded that North Korea fulfill past nuclear disarmament commitments before allowing the resumption of stalled international aid-for-disarmament talks.
Still, the overwhelming focus of Lee's comments on North Korea was a tough promise to improve South Korea's defenses and to hit back hard if attacked again.
"The situation before and after the provocation against Yeonpyeong Island cannot be the same," Lee said. "Any provocation that would pose a threat to our lives and property will not be tolerated. Such provocations will be met with stern, strong responses."
After the September 11 terrorist attacks, the US "went back to the drawing board to devise new security and national strategies, because the safety and security of its people had come under threat," Lee said.
"The shelling of Yeonpyeong Island also served as an opportunity for us to reflect on our security readiness and overhaul our defense posture," he said. "There cannot be any delay in establishing security measures."
Despite his strong words, Lee also said peace between the two Koreas is still possible. "The door for dialogue is still open," he said.
Under Lee's conservative government, ties between the two Koreas have slumped.
Since taking office in early 2008, Lee has halted unconditional aid to the impoverished North Korea and linked South Korean assistance to progress in North Korea's disarmament efforts. That stance enraged North Korea, which cut off reconciliation talks and branded Lee "human scum" and a traitor to Korean reunification.
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