South Korea swears in first female president, Park Geun-hye
Taking the oath of office in front of 70,000 people gathered in front of the National Assembly building in Seoul, Park Geun-hye called on North Korea to abandon its nuclear ambitions and rejoin the international community.
Park Geun-hye was sworn in as South Korea’s first female president on Monday, vowing zero tolerance with provocations from a nuclearised North Korea and a new era of economic prosperity for all.
As leader of Asia’s fourth-largest economy, Park, 61, faces significant challenges, including the belligerent regime in the North, a slowing economy and soaring welfare costs in one of the world’s most rapidly ageing societies.
I will not tolerate any action that threatens the lives of our people and the security of our nation
Taking the oath of office in front of 70,000 people gathered in front of the National Assembly building in Seoul, Park called on North Korea to abandon its nuclear ambitions and rejoin the international community.
“North Korea’s recent nuclear test is a challenge to the survival and future of the Korean people, and there should be no mistake that the biggest victim will be none other than North Korea itself,” she said.
“I will move forward step-by-step on the basis of credible deterrence,” she added.
Observers say her options will be limited by the international outcry over the North’s February 12 nuclear test, which has emboldened the hawks in her ruling conservative party who oppose closer engagement.