Pres. Park proposes family reunions, peace park in DMZ

President Park Geun-hye said Thursday that the liberation and national founding in the true sense would be completed when the two Koreas are reunified, noting that the South is ready to “actively help the North in an open-hearted manner.”

In an address marking the 68th anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japan’s 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula, President Park urged North Korea to “open the door of its heart,” proposing that the two Koreas hold reunions for the families of the two Koreas separated by the Korean War around the Chuseok holiday, which falls on September 19, and establish a peace park in the demilitarized zone (DMZ).

If the two Korea’s agreement on reopening the Kaesong Industrial Complex on Wednesday was the first step to confirming “trust” in the president’s “Korean Peninsula trust-building process” initiative, the proposals for family reunions and the DMZ peace park are interpreted as “sustainable” additional process for the initiative.

“I am truly waiting for North Korea’s change,” she said, urging Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear weapons program and join the international community to “open a new era on the Korean Peninsula.”

Speaking on the aggravating history distortion by Japan since the inauguration of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the president said, “No people of any country would be able to accept it if one hurts their soul and take parts of their bodies.” President Park said she expects Japan to take “responsible and earnest actions that will seek in particular to heal the pain of those who, even now, carry with them the scars of history.”

She also said, “It is time for the political leaders of Japan to show us a leadership of courage that seeks to bring healing for the wounds of the past” so that the two neighbors can become “true partners for cooperation.”

She noted, “I am confident that the Korean people, who have made a proud history with indomitable determination and spirit of challenge, can now create a history of another miracle…I will open the great journey together with the people.” She also asked other politicians to “open a new era with the people as partners for new cooperation.”

In particular, the president vowed to focus on reinvigorating the economy and creating jobs, making it clear that she will concentrate on economic recovery during the rest of this year. She also vowed to support Korean companies with “sales diplomacy.”