Roh Sticks to Peaceful Solution of Nuclear Row
2003-06-11
President Roh Moo-hyun told leading Japanese officials during his recent state visit that he would reject measures other than dialogue to resolve North Korea's nuclear issue, Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Yoon Tae-young said on Tuesday (June 10).
Roh outlined his stance to Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi that the nuclear dispute must be resolved through dialogue and ruled out all measures, including the use of military force, that may destabilize the situation, Yoon added.
The spokesman also said the Japanese premier and political leaders understood Roh's stance.
Roh also brought up the subject of the shared history between South Korea and Japan and presented his vision for the opening of a new era in Northeast Asia, Yoon said.
The spokesman's remarks came a day after the opposition Grand National Party slammed Roh for meeting Japanese Emperor Akihito on Memorial Day and for making a state visit to Japan on the day when the Japanese parliament approved a set of security bills.
Many South Koreans still harbor bitter resentment against Japan for its brutal colonial rule over the Korean Peninsula (1910-1945) when many Korean women were forced to serve as sexual slaves for Japanese soldiers.
Yoon went on to say that Roh pledged to make the economy his top priority and allow the prime minister to deal with pending state affairs
Source : www.korea.net
