Lee urges Japan to face history in Liberation Day speech

In a speech in Seoul marking the anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japan's 1910-1945 colonial rule, Lee appeared to refer to a territorial row with Japan but avoided commenting on it directly. This appears to reflect his stance ofseeking to limit the impact of the row on bilateral ties.

Lee also pressed North Korea to make progress toward denuclearization, which isa condition of economic aid and assistance.

He said he expects Pyongyang will ''come forward for comprehensive dialogue and economic cooperation because now is the most opportune time for the North to make change.'' On the multilateral talks on denuclearizing the North, he said, ''In accordance with progress at the six-party talks and through international cooperation, I intend to proactively carry out substantive economic cooperation programs with the North and ultimately materialize a Korean Peninsula economic community.'' In his speech, Lee also said he wants to put forward ''Low Carbon, GreenGrowth'' as the core of the country's new vision.

''Green technology will create numerous decent jobs to tackle the problem ofgrowth without job creation,'' he said.

==Kyodo