Lee says S. Korea-U.S. alliance strong as long as N. Korean threats remain

SEOUL, May 17 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak said South Korea will keep strengthening its alliance with the United States as long as there are threats from North Korea, according to an interview published Tuesday.
Lee was interviewed by the French daily Le Monde during a visit to Paris on Saturday. The presidential office Cheong Wa Dae provided a Korean-language transcript of the questions and answers of the interview.
"As long as there exist threats from North Korea, the Korea-U.S. relations cannot but strengthen," Lee said during the interview. "The alliance between the U.S. and South Korea aims to deter war. It is not at all to invade North Korea or something like that."
In the past, South Korea had responded softly to North Korean provocations for the sake of stability on the Korean Peninsula, but it has now changed its policy to react strongly to any provocations, Lee said, apparently referring to the North's two deadly attacks on the South last year.
Lee said he believes the new policy will help deter provocations.
jschang@yna.co.kr