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S.Korean president: Seoul ready for dialogue with DPRK

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-02-09 13:11

SEOUL-- South Korea President Lee Myung-bak said Monday that his government is ready to hold dialogue with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) while stressing to stick to his hardline policy towards Pyongyang.

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"The government is ready to sit down with the North (DPRK) at any time and resolve every issue," Lee said at his bi-weekly radio address.

"I am very aware there are people who are concerned about the recent series of threats by the North (DPRK). But my dear people, you do not need to worry too much," said Lee.

The inter-Korea relations have heavily strained since Lee took office in February last year as Lee adopted a hardline policy towards Pyongyang, including suspending economic assistance to DPRK, linking inter-Korean ties with denuclearization process, demanding an open-up policy in DPRK and vowing to review previous agreements on inter-Korean economic cooperation. Dialogues between Seoul and Pyongyang have been cut off since then.

The DPRK military declared late January the abolishment of all political and military agreements with South Korea, adding worries that military conflicts might erupt along the disputed maritime border on the Yellow Sea.

However, Lee said at the radio address that his government will not rush into inter-Korean dialogue without first questioning Pyongyang's intentions.