S Korea to put more emphasis on promotion of new peace plan with DPRK

SEOUL, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's Ministry of Unification has put aside more than 60 percent of its annual budget this year to put more emphasis on promoting a new peace plan with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), a government official said Wednesday.

An official from the ministry said 863 million won, or 61.1 percent of the total budget, is earmarked this year for promotion of the new peace plan that has been proposed by President Lee Myung-bak last August, which practically promises substantial economic aid and calls for conventional arms reduction as long as the DPRK complies with international denuclearization measures.

The ministry added the high budget is in line with its main objective for this year, which is to achieve a new "inter-Korean paradigm" through dialogue and exchanges between the two countries.

In order to promote the new peace plan, the ministry said it will actively engage itself in network and cable TV advertisement campaigns as well as publicity through Internet websites and forums.