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While the issue of North Korea largely dominated her discussions with the delegations President
Park Geun-hye emphasized her willingness to leave the door open for dialogue with Pyongyang.
But she says it is up to the regime to decide whether it wants to make a fresh new start.
Hwang Sung-hee reports. Despite a series of nuclear provocations by Pyongyang, South Korea's
new leader says she will not turn her back on North Korea just yet.
Speaking to foreign dignitaries at a formal banquet marking her inauguration day Monday,
President Park Geun-hye said it was time to end the vicious cycle of mistrust and provocation
between the two Koreas.
President Park said Pyongyang's decision is very important in building trust between the
North and the South and she urged North Korea to take part in securing peace and stability
on the Korean Peninsula.
The comments are another sign President Park will not change her North Korea policy, even
though the North has complicated her first weeks in office by detonating a nuclear device
two weeks ago.
She has vowed stronger defense but also efforts to re-build trust through aid shipments, reconciliation
talks and the resumption of some large-scale economic initiatives, if progress occurs on
the nuclear issue.
President Park's softer approach is comparable to former South Korean leader Lee Myung-bak's
hard-line stance which contributed to the worsening of inter-Korean relations over the
last five years.
While many are hoping to see some kind of re-engagement between the two Koreas, some
critics point out President Park's carrot-and-stick approach to the North lacks specifics.
Hwang Sung-hee, Arirang News.