President Lee Myung Bak has asserted that he believes reunification is closing in during a speech in Malaysia, and called upon South Korea to build its economy in preparation.
Speaking at a meeting with approximately 150 Koreans residing in Malaysia yesterday President Lee said, “It is not far, I can feel reunification is close,” adding, “The North Korean people, who did not know the way the world was flowing due to the iron wall that surrounded them, now know how it is changing.”
“Now they have started figuring out that South Korea is affluent,” the President stated, proclaiming, “This is a change of significance that no one can stop. Reunification is getting closer.”
Therefore, he emphasized, “We have to prepare for reunification by building a greater economic capacity.”
He asserted, “Watching the starving people as the country arms itself with nuclear weapons and Party cadres live their comfortable lives, as the same language and same people see the gruesome state of that nation, I feel the responsibility to summon a peaceful reunification so at least the 23 million North Korea people can have their basic rights and the right to be happy.”
Yesterday’s comments appeared to build on the President’s post-Yeonpyeong speech, wherein he said “it is almost impossible to anticipate North Korea setting aside military adventurism and nuclear weapons of its own accord”, and imply that the Lee administration no longer expects anything good to come from the Kim Jong Il regime, but now sees hope of change through the people and will pay attention to changes there.
However, given that the South Korean President’s words represent a direct threat to the North Korean system, an angry response is inevitable.
President Lee also used his speech to maintain South Korea and the U.S.’ attempt to deter further North Korean attacks, saying, “I have informed North Korea that there will be a counter-attack if it occurs again,” and adding, “Since we have the people behind us, the ROK military has everything in a state of readiness. The ROK is equipped with great military power.”
He asserted, “Even though there were victims here, there was also something lost in North Korea. The people raged against it and applications to join the Marines have increased. Seeing as how we are united and a great many countries of the world unanimously support the ROK, I believe we must turn this misfortune to our advantage.”
