Park calls for 'common sense' in relations with North Korea

SEOUL, June 20 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Park Geun-hye said Thursday she will stick to principles in dealing with North Korea in order to transform relations with the communist nation in a way that is in line with "common sense and international standards." "South-North relations are at a very important juncture right now. How we do at this point would affect not only the fate of the Korean Peninsula, but also those of Northeast Asia and the world," Park said during a meeting with members of the National Unification Advisory Council. "I believe we should break the vicious cycle of provocations and rewards ... and lay the foundation for genuine peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula based on consistent principles and trust. For this, we have to build inter-Korean relations in which common sense and international standards work." Park also said she will deal sternly with North Korean provocations, but is still willing to actively help the impoverished nation if Pyongyang pursues denuclearization and co-prosperity and is willing to become a responsible member of the international community. Conservatives in South Korea have long complained that common sense and international standards are not working with the North, with the unpredictable regime repeatedly breaking the promises and commitments it had made in exchange for economic and other concessions. They have accused previous liberal administrations of pampering Pyongyang with unconditional aid and little punishment for provocations or broken promises, demanding that relations with the North be treated like those with any other country. Relations between the two Koreas had been very tense for months earlier this year as North Korea churned out near-daily war threats against South Korea and the United States after conducting a long-range rocket launch in December and its third nuclear test in February. In an abrupt about-face, however, Pyongyang made a surprise dialogue proposal earlier this month. South Korea accepted the offer and the two sides had agreed to hold their first high-level talks in six years last week, but the agreement unraveled at the last minute due to a dispute over the levels of chief delegates. Officials said Pyongyang insisted on sending a lower-level official while demanding the South send a Cabinet minister to the talks. South Korea rejected the North's demand, saying that it's in violation of its principles and international standards. jschang@yna.co.kr (END)