Seoul's sunshine policy 'over'
South Korean president-elect Lee Myung-bak signals end of 'sunshine' policy to communist north
Thursday, 20, Dec 2007 10:53
The incoming South Korean president has warned his government will vigorously urge North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons programme.
Lee Myung-bak used his first news conference since Wednesday's landslide win to signal an end to the 'sunshine' policy of his predecessor, Roh Moo-hyun.
He said humanitarian and energy aid would only be forthcoming if Pyongyang also improved its human rights record.
"I think unconditionally avoiding criticism of North Korea would not be appropriate," Mr Lee said.
"If we try to point out North Korea's shortcomings with affection, we will go a long way toward improving North Korea's society."
The 66-year-old Grand National party president-elect said denuclearisation was the "most important" aspect of Seoul's agenda with North Korea.
"The road toward peace through coexistence is the road to guarantee a peaceful reunification," he continued.
"Full-fledged economic exchanges can start after North Korea dismantles its nuclear weapons."
Mr Lee, the former chief executive officer of the construction arm of Hyundai, will become South Korea's first businessman president when inaugurated on February 25th after winning an unprecedented 48.7 per cent of the vote earlier this week.
As well as signalling a change in attitude towards the communist north, he has pledged to put South Korea's economy at the forefront of his plans.
South Korea, dubbed a 'shrimp among whales' due to its proximity to Japan, China and eastern Russia, has the world's 13th largest economy but has suffered from a lack of investment in recent years.
"I'll create an environment where businesses will feel confident in making investments," Mr Lee said ahead of the start of his five-year term.