`Stronger pressure, sanctions needed to change NK`

More than half of South Koreans say their government must seek fundamental change in North Korea via stronger sanctions and pressure rather than through an inter-Korean summit or special envoy, a survey released Wednesday said.

The Dong-A Ilbo commissioned Korea Research Center, a professional polling agency, to conduct a phone survey of 700 men and women nationwide Monday and Tuesday. The center asked for the people’s perceptions of the national security crisis in the wake of the North’s shelling of Yeonpyeong Island and nuclear program.

Fifty-seven percent said Seoul must secure fundamental changes in Pyongyang through stronger sanctions, higher than the 38.7 percent who urged an inter-Korean summit or a special envoy to the North.

On the South’s military response to the shelling, 83.4 percent agreed that “The military should have put up a more stern response, including bombing by fighter jets,” while 14.1 percent disagreed.

As for whether President Lee Myung-bak showed good leadership as the commander-in-chief following the attack, 51.2 percent said no while 43.1 percent said yes.

On who is most responsible for the North’s successive attacks, 39.1 percent blamed the inherent character of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il’s government, saying the provocations have nothing to do with South Korea’s policy toward the North.

In addition, 35.8 percent said the North’s latest aggression resulted from unilateral policy under the South`s liberal Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun administrations, while 15.4 percent blamed the incumbent Lee administration’s hard-line stance.

yongari@donga.com