Posted April. 08, 2005 23:33,
On April 8, Grand National Party (GNP) chair Park Geun-hye criticized President Roh Moo-hyuns conception of Korea as a balancer-nation in northeast Asia. She commented, It is contradictory to seek to become a balancer in the Northeast Asian region and, at the same time, to enhance the Korea-U.S. alliance.
On the same day, delivering an address on the behalf of the GNP in the National Assembly, Chairman Park said, Being a balancer in northeast Asia reminds me of Daehanjeguk (the imperial continuation of the Joseon dynasty from 1897 to 1910). The empire had declared its futile neutrality just before the Russo-Japan War in 1904, 100 years ago. She continued, pointing out, At present, China, Japan, and Russia, as well as North Korea, do not recognize South Korea as a balancer in the region. Under the circumstances, any more isolation outside the framework of the Korea-U.S. alliance would not serve Koreas interests. On Japans sovereignty claims on Dokdo, Chairman Park emphatically said, We will propose a bill for a Dokdo Day in the upcoming extra session to further Koreas effective control over the islets. We plan to promote a special law to preserve and make the most of Dokdo.
The GNP chairman suggested as a nation-wide project a Dream Start program that holds the government responsible for nurturing and teaching children from lower-income families. In addition, she promised to eradicate sex crimes by introducing a chip-implant system or electronic bracelet system for those who habitually commit sexual assaults.