South Korean President says the country is at a “turning point”

The Korean peninsula is at a “turning point” and there are opportunities for change, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak said in a New Year speech. He said Seoul would “respond strongly” if provoked by North Korea, with whom it remains technically at war.

However, President Lee reiterated that the biggest goal was stability, and that aid-for-disarmament talks could resume if Pyongyang halted its nuclear activities.

In a nationally televised address, Lee Myung-bak said that peace was his priority and that a “window of opportunity” had opened for better ties with the North. “The situation on the Korean peninsula is now entering a new turning point,” he said. “But there should be a new opportunity amid changes and uncertainty.”

South Korea would, however, “thoroughly maintain national security as long as there is a possibility of provocation by the North”, he added.

On Sunday, North Korea told citizens to defend leader Kim Jong-un to the death. Meaning that any gestures from South Korean officials are not likely to be taken very seriously by their counterparts in the north.

(아주경제 앤드류 이 기자)

Park Sae-jin swatchsjp@ajunews.com