President Park Geun-hye on Tuesday instructed Korea’s diplomatic mission chiefs to help drum up international support for her vision for peace and cooperation on the peninsula and in Northeast Asia.
“It’s important to secure cooperation from each country which is crucial to building the foundation for a peaceful reunification of the Korean Peninsula,” she told an annual meeting of 122 ambassadors and consul generals.
“Our overseas diplomatic missions should take on a leading role in gaining support from all countries of the world for the Korean Peninsula trust-building process and the Northeast Asia Peace and Cooperation Initiative.”
With North Korea’s nuclear brinkmanship a top obstacle for her statecraft, Park has been promoting her “trustpolitik” approach to reengage the communist neighbor while deterring its security threat.
Park reiterated her resolve not to reward the bellicose regime for its saber-rattling.
“Trust can be established only when each party keeps to the rules and promises. North Korea should have the perception that it will pay its dues if it breaks rules and promises with the international community,” the president said.
“We should make North Korea realize it is an impossible illusion to pursue nuclear armament and economic development in parallel. To that end, it’s important for the international community to send a firm, consistent message in unison, which is a key part that you exactly should play.”
Her new multinational initiative also envisions a long-term trust-building process among regional partners including Pyongyang, which starts from nonpolitical concerns such as climate change and counterterrorism and then evolves to security cooperation.
The so-called Seoul Process is aimed at tackling what she called an Asian paradox, referring to the region’s escalating territorial and historical tensions despite deepening economic interdependence.
“Despite Northeast Asia’s international significance, there is no multilateral dialogue process or consultative body here where all neighbors participate, unlike other regions,” Park said.
“If North Korea comes to take part, it will greatly help foster inter-Korean trust and establish the foundation for a peaceful reunification by making joint efforts to further common interests.”
By Shin Hyon-hee (
heeshin@heraldcorp.com)
