By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter

Defense Minister Yoon Kwang-ung said Friday that the nation’s enhanced self-reliant defense capabilities based on a solid Seoul-Washington alliance will ensure peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

In a luncheon meeting hosted by the European Union Chamber of Commerce in Korea (EUCCK) at a hotel in Seoul, Yoon stressed there is a ``firm foundation’’ for peace and stability on the peninsula backed by the strengthened ROK-U.S. combined defense posture and improving inter-Korean relations.

Among those present at the meeting were European ambassadors to South Korea and foreign businessmen here.

``The ROK-U.S. alliance has effectively deterred any provocation from North Korea, thus providing peace and stability on the peninsula, let alone a strong foundation for Korea to establish political and economic prosperity,’’ the defense minister said.

He emphasized that the half-century alliance between South Korea and the United States should be developed in a ``future-oriented’’ direction to build comprehensive and dynamic relations.

Based on the firm alliance, Yoon said the Defense Ministry will endeavor to improve capabilities and systems that will enable Korea to play a leading role in deterring and defeating any North Korean aggression.

He said the nation’s armed forces will also seek help from other countries, including China and Russia, to create a security environment conducive to the reunification of the peninsula by actively participating in international security cooperation.

As for the North’s nuclear weapons program, Yoon reiterated the government’s position that North Korea must not possess nuclear weapons under any circumstances, urging Pyongyang to return to the stalled six-party talks aimed at ending the nuclear standoff at an early date.

``To induce it (North Korea) to reach a strategic decision, diverse diplomatic efforts are now underway,’’ the minister said, adding that the nuclear issue should be resolved peacefully within the multilateral negotiation framework.

Citing the example of Germany’s reunification in 1990 and the integration of European countries, Yoon asked the EU to play a larger constructive role in easing tension on the peninsula and increase efforts to help resolve the 30-month-long standoff over Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons program.

The two Koreas, the U.S., China, Japan and Russia have held three rounds of talks on the North’s nuclear programs in Bejing, with little progress. The last round of negotiations was held in June 2004.

North Korea raised the stakes in the nuclear standoff when it declared Wednesday the completion of unloading spent nuclear fuel rods from a reactor at its main nuclear complex in Yongbyon, north of Pyongyang, challenging the international nonproliferation efforts. The rods can be treated to produce plutonium for use in nuclear weapons.

gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr