President Lee Myung Bak revealed on the 1st, “The South-North Korean issue cannot resolved through exclusive nationalism, so it should be looked at as an international issue as well as an issue internal to the people.”
While taking part in the 89th commemoration of the March 1st nation-wide independence movement of 1919, President Lee remarked on the current state of affairs with North Korea. “We must figure out where Korea stands in the world and, with a broader perspective, find a solution for the North-South Korea issue,” he stated. “This is the road to realizing the true national spirit of the March 1st movement, for national autonomy and independence.”
The reason why he made clear the need to acknowledge the North-South Korea issue as an international case can be analyzed as his intent to solve the North Korean nuclear issue within the framework of the Six Party Talks. In contrast to the Roh Moo Hyun administration which exhibited an off beat with the U.S. in regards to approaching the North, the current administration can be seen as trying to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue through a strict mutual cooperation with the U.S.
President Lee pointed out at the commemorative event, “Let us now become a nation that does not follow the flow of the history of the world, but one that transforms and leads the flow.”
He also emphasized, “We desperately need a new mentality and a direction and can cross the ideological battle which wears down a practical mindset. The period of ideological conflicts has to come to an end.”
He said, “’A practical yardstick has to be used in all areas, including politics and economics, diplomacy and security, and industrial relations and we must raise and realize a national strategy with a new mentality and vision,” emphasizing “pragmatism” in the diplomatic security policy.
He also pointed out the need for President Lee to approach South Korean-Japan relations with a practical approach. He said, “South Korea and Japan should form a future-oriented relations by adopting practical positions.”
He also revealed, “We have to head towards an open nationalism which cooperates with the world while living simultaneously with and having exchanges with international society, not merely through narrow-minded nationalism.
President Lee pledged, “What we do now will determine the next 60 years. As the patriotic forefathers united their strengths and overcome their differences in order to head towards a collective purpose, we have to steadfastly walk the road of unity in order to reach a historic unified purpose as a developed nation.”
