Sunshine can keep peace, Kim says

President Kim Dae-jung again hailed his sunshine policy as the only viable solution to peace on the Korean Peninsula. He spoke at a ceremony to mark the 83d anniversary of the launching of Korea's independence movement against colonial Japan.

"One of the most important national and historical missions bestowed on us is to preserve peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and to prepare for national unification," Mr. Kim said, speaking at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts on Friday. "At all cost, we must prevent war that would certainly inflict enormous casualties and reduce half a century of progress to nothing.

"The sunshine policy calls for peaceful exchanges and peaceful coexistence with North Korea on the basis of a staunch security posture," he added. He said that stability after the Sept. 11 terrorism and massive foreign investment in Korea were possible due to the reduction of tension brought by the Korean summit in 2000.

by Chun Young-gi