Roh downplays security threat claimed by North Korea |
South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun said Wednesday that North Korea's claim of an external security threat, which it used to defend its pursuit of a nuclear arsenal, was groundless or exaggerated.
"North Korea has justified its nuclear weapon possession by citing the need to maintain security," Roh said in a meeting of overseas members of the National Unification Advisory Council at his office Cheong Wa Dae.
"But the security threats claimed by North Korea are actually nonexistent or exaggerated," the president said.
Roh then stated his opposition to any use of force against North Korea, saying the crisis should be settled through a mixture of sanctions and dialogue.
"Two broad means of settlement can be discussed. One is strong sanctions and the other is a peaceful settlement through dialogue.
We should strategically mix the two," the president said.
The government wants the North Korean nuclear problems to be settled "without any use of armed force or an unhappy incident," he added.
"If North Korea truly wants peace and security, it has to work to build an order of peace in the region. Any nuclear armament would rather obstruct the order of peace and pose a security threat to neighboring countries."
Seoul, Oct. 11 (Yonhap News)