S Korea to actively promote negotiation strategy with DPRK: president

SEOUL, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak on Friday said his government will work together with other countries engaged in six-party talks to actively promote a negotiation strategy with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Lee made the remark in a written interview with Singapore's English daily The Straits Times, published Friday, ahead of his departure for an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Meeting.

Lee noted it appears that the main direction of the DPRK's nuclear issue is that the six-party international disarmament negotiations would be resumed following the U.S.-DPRK bilateral talks.

Seoul will continue to make unremitting efforts to relaunch inter-Korean talks and persuade Pyongyang to return to the six-party forum, the president said.

Lee reurged the DPRK to come back the international negotiations, saying that if Pyongyang truly wants to settle its nuclear standoff, it should return to the six-nation talks to sincerely discuss solutions for its denuclearization.

On the other hand, Lee said his country will continue to keep its expansionary policies as economic uncertainties still remain both at home and abroad.

The balance of expanding exports and domestic demand is crucial to achieving continued sustainable growth even after the economic crisis is over, he added.

The president said he will also make efforts to promote regional integration at the annual meeting.

He said at this year's APEC meeting, he will "work to promote cooperation within the APEC and a new future-oriented agenda," including economic integration in the Asian-Pacific region "that will help prepare the world for a balanced growth of the global economy in the next 20 years".

The president said his country will also strengthen cooperation with other economies in the region, such as China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Lee also called APEC members to promote regional free trade, which he said will contribute to the global efforts to overcome the worldwide economic crisis.

South Korea has been actively working to boost free trade, Lee said, citing a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)with India and a free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union.

The president said his country will continue to push ahead with the on-going talks and ratification of the South Korea-U.S. FTA.

Lee departed here on Friday for Singapore to attend the annual APEC leaders' meeting due on Nov. 14-15.