S Korea not seeking reunification through absorption: PM*
February 25, 2011
South Korea is not seeking reunification with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) through absorption, the country's Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik told parliament Friday.
Reaffirming Seoul's commitment to its official policy toward Pyongyang, dubbed the "policy of mutual benefit and common prosperity," the prime minister denied that the government is considering reuniting with the country's former wartime rival by absorbing it.
President Lee Myung-bak's idea of introducing reunification tax, aimed at funding the cost of reunification estimated at 1 trillion U.S. dollars, have raised a question here whether the country is looking to rejoin with the DPRK through South Korea- funded absorption.
Lee, who has recently said reunification will "definitely come," has repeatedly called on Pyongyang to follow in the footsteps of China and Vietnam and open up itself.
* Url:http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90777/90851/7300618.html
