The South Korean president has revealed details of what he calls a “bold plan” to improve North Korea’s economy in exchange for complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and “sustainable peace.”
Addressing a ceremony marking South Korea’s independence from Japanese colonial rule from 1910 to 1945, President Yoon Sook-yeol called on Pyongyang to undertake a “genuine and substantive process for denuclearization.” rice field.
Yoon promised to provide Pyongyang with an economic plan that would “progressively and significantly improve the economy of North Korea and the livelihood of its people” if the Kim Jong-un regime halted its nuclear program.
“We will implement a large-scale food program. We will support the infrastructure for generation, transmission and distribution of electricity. We will implement projects to modernize ports and airports for international trade,” he said.
Yoon also offered to help Pyongyang boost agricultural productivity, modernize hospital and medical infrastructure, and implement international investment and financial assistance initiatives.
“North Korea’s denuclearization is essential for sustainable peace on the Korean Peninsula, Northeast Asia and around the world,” he said.
Yun had announced a proposal for North Korea when he took office in May. Conservative leaders called for a tougher stance on North Korea and a stronger commitment to US security for the country’s defense.
North Korea’s economy has suffered setbacks due to border closures and persistent sanctions. Nuclear-armed states have also faced challenges in dealing with COVID-19 infections and have accused South Korea of spreading the virus.
South Korea and the United States have called on North Korea to denuclearize and return to diplomacy, but North Korea has ignored what it calls “hostile acts” from the United States and its allies.
South Korea to improve Japan relations ‘quickly’
In his Liberation Day speech, Yoon also promised to “promptly and appropriately improve” relations between South Korea and Japan, which have been strained for decades as a result of wartime forced labor disputes.
He said improving relations between the two countries was essential as they faced “common threats that challenge the freedoms of global citizens”.
“When South Korea-Japan relations move toward a common future and the missions of the times align based on common universal values, it will also help resolve the historical issues that exist between the two countries.
The two countries’ foreign ministers met in Tokyo on July 18 to discuss resolving disputes over the repatriation of South Koreans forced to work in Japanese companies and military brothels under Japanese colonial rule.
Japan claimed that the issue had already been resolved by a treaty signed in 1965.
South Korea’s Foreign Minister Park Jin said it would work to find a “preferred solution” before a verdict on compensation payments, and both sides agreed to seek an early resolution to the dispute.
The two ministers also agreed to strengthen trilateral cooperation with the United States against North Korea’s nuclear threat while maintaining South Korea’s diplomatic dialogue with North Korea. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Said.
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Aldgra Fredly is a Malaysia-based freelance writer covering Asia Pacific news for The Epoch Times.