Kim stresses peace in Liberation Day speech

President Kim Dae-Jung said Monday that various measures are underway to ease tensions between South and North Korea, including the joint military, economy and socio-culture committees to be formed during the inter-Korean ministerial talks, direct military telephone lines and a bilateral meeting between defense ministers.

In the 55th Liberation Day address, titled ¡°Towards Peace and Development in the Koreas,¡± which was issued earlier today, President Kim stated that agreements ensuring investment and preventing double taxation would be reached to enhance inter-Korean economic cooperation. He also said that reforms would be implemented in the four major sectors by February 2000, the beginning of his third year as president, creating a sound base for economic development in the new millennium. He promised to introduce and enforce laws protecting human rights and stamping out corruption as well as revise national security laws.

Kim declared that selfish collective action and illegal violent protests that disturb social order would be strictly punished. He said he understood that medical reforms are currently causing pain and inconvenience to the people, but stressed that the changes are necessary to benefit the public and the younger generation in the long run.

The president added that U.S. troops are needed in Korea to prevent the outbreak of war and noted that they play an important role in maintaining peace and security in the Northeast Asian region.