Government to focus on stabilizing lives of low-income citizens
President Lee Myung-bak said Monday that he would prioritize peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula this year amid growing uncertainties from last month’s death of Kim Jong-il.
During a nationally televised New Year’s policy address, he underscored that “the window of opportunity always remains open,” urging the North to stop its nuclear activities for the resumption of the multilateral aid-for-denuclearization talks.
“The essential goal for us to achieve now is peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. If North Korea comes forward with a sincere attitude, it will be possible for us to work together to open a new era of the Korean Peninsula,” Lee said.
“As soon as the North stops its nuclear activities, it will be possible for the six-party talks to resume. We are ready to provide the necessary support to ease North Korea’s security concerns and resuscitate its economy based on what will be agreed upon at the talks.”
While leaving open the possibility of inter-Korean cooperation, Lee reaffirmed that Seoul would not tolerate any future provocations by the communist state that conducted two brutal attacks in 2010, killing 50 South Koreans.
“As long as there continues to be a possibility of North Korean provocation, we will maintain a watertight defense posture. If any aggression occurs, we will strongly respond,” Lee said.
“Peace and security on the peninsula and reunification are the tasks that should be addressed jointly by both the South and North, the owners of the Korean Peninsula, not by other parties. I expect neighboring countries to readily cooperate as well.”
His New Year’s address drew keen attention as it was expected to present his policy stance after the North announced on Dec. 19 that its leader had died.
The North’s powerful National Defense Commission said last week it would not deal with the Lee administration. Some analysts expected the North to maintain a confrontational stance toward the South for the time being to rally its people behind Kim’s successor Jong-un.
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President Lee Myung-bak delivers his New Year’s policy address at Cheong Wa Dae on Monday. (Yonhap News) |
Experts said Lee’s position on North Korea in the address was in line with the “grand bargain” proposal that Lee made in 2009. Under the deal, a security guarantee and international assistance will be provided if the North dismantles the core parts of its nuclear programs through the six-party talks.
“The address conveys a message (to the North) that should it be denuclearized, all are possible including security guarantee and economic assistances,” a senior Cheong Wa Dae official told reporters.
“We opened the door of opportunity for the North to make its own choice. We focused on showing our willingness to hold out hands to it. We will wait and see whether it will grab or reject them.”
The official also noted that as it concentrates on stabilizing its regime and bringing its people together after Kim’s demise, the North may not shift its policy directions anytime soon.
“We understand the North’s internal situations. I don’t think that North Korea will change its policy lines immediately. It is also unrealistic to expect the North to make any conciliatory gestures now. It is just a wishful thinking,” he said.
Some experts expressed disappointment over the president’s address.
“To stably manage the situation on the peninsula, what is the most crucial is to forge an environment conducive for peace and stability. For that, we should move more proactively rather than taking a passive stance,” said Yang Moo-jin, professor at the University of North Korean studies.
During the address, Lee also expressed regrets, which the media interpreted as an indirect apology for a string of corruption scandals surrounding his close associates and relatives.
“Looking back over the past year, I cannot help but express my regrets as well. I will take a good look at myself and the people around me again, redress omissions and commissions and manage all matters more strictly,” he said.
On the economic front, the president said that this year’s goal was to stabilize the lives of low-income families, noting that the economic recovery seems to be “far off for so many people.”
“Under all circumstances this year, the government will make efforts to curb inflation of consumer prices within the low 3 percent range. Growth matters, but at the same time, the focus will also be placed on the stabilization of consumer prices,” he said.
Lee also presented a series of policies aimed at helping improve the livelihoods of low-income citizens.
He said that the government will stabilize the markets for rental and long-term lease housing units by increasing the supply of rental units and invest over 10 trillion won ($8.6 billion) in job creation projects. He also said that from this year, 20 percent of new recruits hired by public organizations would be high-school graduates.
By Song Sang-ho (
sshluck@heraldcorp.com)
