By Na Jeong-ju
President Lee Myung-bak called for measures to boost fortifications on the five islands near the western inter-Korean sea border, Tuesday, saying the military should spare no efforts to protect the residents on the islands from possible additional attacks by North Korea.
He also instructed the Cabinet to create jobs and provide better living conditions for the islanders.
“We need to fortify the five islands, including Yeonpyeong, gradually as part of measures to counter North Korea’s military threats,” Lee said during a meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, according to his spokeswoman Kim Hee-jung.
“We’re also obliged to provide a better living environment for the residents so that they can live there more comfortably. We should protect their lives and property.”
Some residents on Yeonpyeong have demanded the government help them move to other areas since North Korea launched an artillery attack on the island on Nov. 23. Two civilians and two marines were killed, and dozens of homes were destroyed in the North’s first attack on civilians since the 1950-53 Korean War.
Defense experts say the purpose of the shelling was to drive civilians off of the five border islands and turn them into an international conflict zone.
The islands are located just below the Northern Limit Line, the de-facto maritime border drawn unilaterally by the United Nations Command at the end of the Korean War. North Korea had never refuted the boundary until it began claiming in 1973 that the islands were part of its territory.
On Monday, the Presidential Commission for National Security Review recommended that the government double the number of marines defending the western border islands and reinforce their combat capabilities.
Lee also approved a plan to spend 30 billion won ($26 million) to support those who suffered damage from the North’s artillery attack and finance the reconstruction of destroyed facilities on the island.
As for the revised free trade agreement (FTA) between Korea and the United States, the conservative leader stressed that Seoul’s closer economic relations with the U.S., the European Union and India will help ensure peace and security on the Korean Peninsula.
“Our major trade partners, including the EU and India, have condemned the North Korean attack and fully support us,” Lee said at the Cabinet meeting. “It proves that the FTAs are not just about economy, but also significant in cementing security ties.”
He defended the deal with the U.S. despite criticism from opposition parties that his administration made excessive concessions on auto issues.
“Our economy heavily depends on exports, as trade accounted for 82.4 percent of the country’s gross domestic product last year,” he said. “Given this situation, expanding economic relations with other countries through FTAs is the only way to survive and ensure continuous economic prosperity.”
jj@koreatimes.co.kr
President Lee Myung-bak called for measures to boost fortifications on the five islands near the western inter-Korean sea border, Tuesday, saying the military should spare no efforts to protect the residents on the islands from possible additional attacks by North Korea.
He also instructed the Cabinet to create jobs and provide better living conditions for the islanders.
“We need to fortify the five islands, including Yeonpyeong, gradually as part of measures to counter North Korea’s military threats,” Lee said during a meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, according to his spokeswoman Kim Hee-jung.
“We’re also obliged to provide a better living environment for the residents so that they can live there more comfortably. We should protect their lives and property.”
Some residents on Yeonpyeong have demanded the government help them move to other areas since North Korea launched an artillery attack on the island on Nov. 23. Two civilians and two marines were killed, and dozens of homes were destroyed in the North’s first attack on civilians since the 1950-53 Korean War.
Defense experts say the purpose of the shelling was to drive civilians off of the five border islands and turn them into an international conflict zone.
The islands are located just below the Northern Limit Line, the de-facto maritime border drawn unilaterally by the United Nations Command at the end of the Korean War. North Korea had never refuted the boundary until it began claiming in 1973 that the islands were part of its territory.
On Monday, the Presidential Commission for National Security Review recommended that the government double the number of marines defending the western border islands and reinforce their combat capabilities.
Lee also approved a plan to spend 30 billion won ($26 million) to support those who suffered damage from the North’s artillery attack and finance the reconstruction of destroyed facilities on the island.
As for the revised free trade agreement (FTA) between Korea and the United States, the conservative leader stressed that Seoul’s closer economic relations with the U.S., the European Union and India will help ensure peace and security on the Korean Peninsula.
“Our major trade partners, including the EU and India, have condemned the North Korean attack and fully support us,” Lee said at the Cabinet meeting. “It proves that the FTAs are not just about economy, but also significant in cementing security ties.”
He defended the deal with the U.S. despite criticism from opposition parties that his administration made excessive concessions on auto issues.
“Our economy heavily depends on exports, as trade accounted for 82.4 percent of the country’s gross domestic product last year,” he said. “Given this situation, expanding economic relations with other countries through FTAs is the only way to survive and ensure continuous economic prosperity.”
No comments:
Post a Comment