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S Korean President for implementing inter-Korean agreement
Seoul, Aug 15: South Korean President Kim dae-Jung today gave high marks to his nation`s latest reconciliation efforts with North Korea but said that priority should be given to implementing agreements reached between the two rivals.
Seoul, Aug 15: South Korean President Kim dae-Jung today gave high marks to his nation's latest reconciliation efforts with North Korea but said that priority should be given to implementing agreements reached between the two rivals.
In a statement marking Liberation Day, Kim reconfirmed that he would continue to pursue his ‘sunshine' policy of engaging the isolated communist nation during the remainder of his term, which ends in February.
“Some meaningful agreements were reached'' at three days of cabinet-level talks between the Koreas that ended yesterday in Seoul, the statement said. But the president added, “What is important is carrying them out.''
Kim's statement was read by Prime Minister-designate Chang Dae-Whan during a ceremony in Central South Korea. The President skipped the ceremony because he was sick with pneumonia. To mark the day the Korean peninsula was liberated from Japanese colonial rule 57 years ago, a delegation of 116 North Korean citizens including civic leaders and performing artists arrived in Seoul on today. They held celebrations with South Korean counterparts.
“The failure to set a date for military contacts that would guarantee the successful implementation of south-north agreement is no more than a half-done agreement,'' the Joongang Ilbo newspaper said in an editorial.
Kim, who has been criticised at home for being too conciliatory to North Korean, defended his ‘sunshine' policy in his statement today. He argued that the policy helped preserve stability on the Korean peninsula.
“Peace and stability on the Korean peninsula are the road to national survival and the prerequisites for our economic take-off,'' Kim said.
Bureau Report
Kim's statement was read by Prime Minister-designate Chang Dae-Whan during a ceremony in Central South Korea. The President skipped the ceremony because he was sick with pneumonia. To mark the day the Korean peninsula was liberated from Japanese colonial rule 57 years ago, a delegation of 116 North Korean citizens including civic leaders and performing artists arrived in Seoul on today. They held celebrations with South Korean counterparts.
“The failure to set a date for military contacts that would guarantee the successful implementation of south-north agreement is no more than a half-done agreement,'' the Joongang Ilbo newspaper said in an editorial.
Kim, who has been criticised at home for being too conciliatory to North Korean, defended his ‘sunshine' policy in his statement today. He argued that the policy helped preserve stability on the Korean peninsula.
“Peace and stability on the Korean peninsula are the road to national survival and the prerequisites for our economic take-off,'' Kim said.
Bureau Report