hankyoreh

president of the Presidium of the Supreme People‘s Assembly

Regarding North Korea's recent act of appeasement, President Lee Myung-bak said, "We will be maintaining our current North Korean policy" on Sept. 11.

According to Lee Dong-kwan, the secretary for public information, President Lee said this in response to a question on the possibility of fostering momentum for inter-Korea dialogue while showing a firm attitude against North Korea's provocations asked during a breakfast meeting with advisors on foreign and security affairs held in the Cheong Wa Dae (the presidential office in South Korea or Blue House).

A Cheong Wa Dae official explained that President Lee emphasized how South Korea will maintain a firm attitude towards North Korea, which has displayed both strong and moderate attitudes recently.

It is also reported that President Lee said, "The present moment represents an important turning point and a period of ferment regarding inter-Korean relations." He added, "Policies should be made out of consideration of the future, so people in twenty to thirty years can say 'the Lee Myung-bak administration performed well on North Korea policy."

President Lee also spoke on North Korea's policy-making and said, "North Korea has shown a two-pronged policy approach in that it has created moderate policies on the one hand, while presenting justification for continuing to develop uranium enrichment capabilities." He concluded by saying, "This indicates that the current situation is very uncertain." He added, "However, this uncertainty has a positive aspect in that it gives us possible space to solve the North Korea nuclear affair."

Another Cheong Wa Dae official interpreted the president remarks as suggesting, "The possibility for dialogue between South Korea and North Korea exists, however, we will continue to support the international sanctions placed on North Korea in response to the second nuclear test."

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]