Two-pronged Strategy
On Oct. 13 President Park Geun-hye said at the 2nd Reunification Preparation Committee Meeting that a high-level meeting between the two Koreas scheduled for the near future should be used as a fence-mending opportunity, and the hot-button May 24 issue should be handled with truthfulness by both governments. The remarks imply that the meeting has to take place for dialogue and agreement in spite of the North’s recent Northern Limit Line violation and balloon attack.
“Inter-Korean relations have always had two faces as we see these days, and any attempt to change the environment will be a silly mistake,” she said, adding, “The South Korean government will keep going for dialogue and peace while taking stern action against any provocation.”
She continued, “Both Koreas and the international community now have to come up with specific measures and action plans so that the DMZ Peace Park can take shape, and the North Korean people should be allowed to participate in the construction and development of the eco-friendly park.” Concerning inter-Korean exchange, she mentioned that assistance and cooperation to better the living standards of North Korean people need to be expanded for human rights as well as humanitarian purposes.
“In this context, the establishment of medical support systems and the supply of medical equipment may be two of the options not limited to medicine supply,” she explained, continuing, “Also, more specific sub-projects such as fertilizer supply, kitchen remodeling and road paving will have to be underway in the framework of the agricultural complex project, as solutions to problems associated with food shortage, poor village infrastructure, and backward living environments.”