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211899
Mon, 10/10/2011 - 06:11
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https://oananews.org//node/211899
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Lee urges National Assembly to ratify trade pact with U.S.
By Chang Jae-soon
SEOUL (Yonhap) - President Lee Myung-bak urged the National Assembly on Monday to approve a long-pending free trade agreement with the United States as early as possible, as the U.S. Congress is set to approve the landmark deal later this week.
In a parliamentary budget speech, Lee also said he will exercise "flexibility" in his North Korea policy in what could be seen as a sign that he may soften his hard-line stance on Pyongyang to reduce long-running tensions on the divided peninsula.
The address, read by Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik, came a day before Lee departs for Washington for talks with U.S. President Barack Obama on a largely celebratory trip focusing on the trade pact expected to pass through Congress on Wednesday.
"More than anything else, the Korea-U.S. FTA is an issue that should be dealt with urgently in terms of national competitiveness," Lee said in the address. "The U.S. Congress plans to complete its ratification soon and I ask our National Assembly to act on it at an early date in consideration of national interests."
Lee also said the trade pact will make South Korea the only nation that has free trade accords with the world's three largest economic blocs -- the United States, the European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) -- and a country with the world's "largest economic territory."
The agreement, signed in 2007 and modified last year, has been one of the most contentious issues in South Korea's parliament. It was presented to the parliamentary committee on foreign affairs and trade last month amid objections from opposition lawmakers.
The main opposition Democratic Party claims the deal favors the U.S. and should be renegotiated.
On North Korea, Lee said he will seek "principled dialogue" with Pyongyang while having "flexibility." It is believed to be the first time that Lee has spoken of flexibility on North Korea issues, though his newly appointed unification minister has said he will study ways to exercise "flexibility" in dealing with Pyongyang.
Lee also said the South will continue humanitarian assistance to the impoverished neighbor.
"Preparations for unification are a task that can no longer be delayed. In particular, securing funds for unification is an expression of the country's will for peaceful unification and a duty that lessens the burden of future generations," Lee said.
"The government will make efforts to put inter-Korean relations on a normal footing and continue to prepare for peaceful unification."
Relations between the two Koreas soured after Lee took office in early 2008 with a pledge to link large-scale aid to progress in international efforts to end North Korea's nuclear programs. Their ties further deteriorated following the North's two deadly attacks on the South last year.
Lee said the government is seeking to make the country's military stronger to deter North Korea.
The government has submitted its budget proposal for next year, seeking to increase its spending by 5.5 percent to 326.1 trillion won (US$272.7 billion) from this year's 309.1 trillion won in an effort to boost job creation and strengthen the nation's overall growth potential.
Officials said its focus is on job creation that the government believes will lead to better welfare and stronger economic growth at a time when the economy faces mounting external uncertainties.
In Monday's speech, Lee put forward the government's five major specific tasks reflected in the budget, including providing greater support for young adults seeking to start their own businesses, encouraging the employment of those without college diplomas and expanding welfare services.
SEOUL (Yonhap) - President Lee Myung-bak urged the National Assembly on Monday to approve a long-pending free trade agreement with the United States as early as possible, as the U.S. Congress is set to approve the landmark deal later this week.
In a parliamentary budget speech, Lee also said he will exercise "flexibility" in his North Korea policy in what could be seen as a sign that he may soften his hard-line stance on Pyongyang to reduce long-running tensions on the divided peninsula.
The address, read by Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik, came a day before Lee departs for Washington for talks with U.S. President Barack Obama on a largely celebratory trip focusing on the trade pact expected to pass through Congress on Wednesday.
"More than anything else, the Korea-U.S. FTA is an issue that should be dealt with urgently in terms of national competitiveness," Lee said in the address. "The U.S. Congress plans to complete its ratification soon and I ask our National Assembly to act on it at an early date in consideration of national interests."
Lee also said the trade pact will make South Korea the only nation that has free trade accords with the world's three largest economic blocs -- the United States, the European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) -- and a country with the world's "largest economic territory."
The agreement, signed in 2007 and modified last year, has been one of the most contentious issues in South Korea's parliament. It was presented to the parliamentary committee on foreign affairs and trade last month amid objections from opposition lawmakers.
The main opposition Democratic Party claims the deal favors the U.S. and should be renegotiated.
On North Korea, Lee said he will seek "principled dialogue" with Pyongyang while having "flexibility." It is believed to be the first time that Lee has spoken of flexibility on North Korea issues, though his newly appointed unification minister has said he will study ways to exercise "flexibility" in dealing with Pyongyang.
Lee also said the South will continue humanitarian assistance to the impoverished neighbor.
"Preparations for unification are a task that can no longer be delayed. In particular, securing funds for unification is an expression of the country's will for peaceful unification and a duty that lessens the burden of future generations," Lee said.
"The government will make efforts to put inter-Korean relations on a normal footing and continue to prepare for peaceful unification."
Relations between the two Koreas soured after Lee took office in early 2008 with a pledge to link large-scale aid to progress in international efforts to end North Korea's nuclear programs. Their ties further deteriorated following the North's two deadly attacks on the South last year.
Lee said the government is seeking to make the country's military stronger to deter North Korea.
The government has submitted its budget proposal for next year, seeking to increase its spending by 5.5 percent to 326.1 trillion won (US$272.7 billion) from this year's 309.1 trillion won in an effort to boost job creation and strengthen the nation's overall growth potential.
Officials said its focus is on job creation that the government believes will lead to better welfare and stronger economic growth at a time when the economy faces mounting external uncertainties.
In Monday's speech, Lee put forward the government's five major specific tasks reflected in the budget, including providing greater support for young adults seeking to start their own businesses, encouraging the employment of those without college diplomas and expanding welfare services.
