SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's new president Park Geun-hye urged North Korea on Monday to abandon its nuclear ambitions, and to stop wasting its scarce resources on arms, less than two weeks after the country carried out its third nuclear test.
In her inauguration speech, the country's first female president, also called on South Koreans to help revive the nation's export-dependent economy whose trade is threatened by neighbouring Japan's weak yen policy.
Park, the 61-year-old daughter of South Korea's former military ruler Park Chung-hee, met with the father of North Korea's current ruler in 2002 and offered the impoverished and isolated neighbour aid and trade if it abandoned its nuclear programme.
"I urge North Korea to abandon its nuclear ambitions without delay and embark on the path to peace and shared development," Park said after being inaugurated on Monday.
Park, usually an austere and demure figure in her public appearances, wore an olive-drab military style jacket and lavender scarf on Monday and smiled broadly and waved enthusiastically as a 70,000 strong crowd cheered her.
Rap sensation Psy was one of the warm up acts on an early spring day outside the country's parliament and performed his "Gagnam Style" hit, but without some of the raunchier actions.
Park's tough stance was supported by the partisan and largely older crowd at her inauguration.
"I have trust in her as the first female president ... She has to be more aggressive on North Korea," said Jeong Byung-ok, 44, who was at the ceremony with her four-year-old daughter.
PARK FACES CHOICE: PAY OFF PYONGYANG OR ISOLATE NORTH
North Korea is ruled by 30-year-old Kim Jong-un, the third of his line to hold power in Pyongyang and the grandson of a man who tried to assassinate Park's father.
The North, which is facing further U.N. sanctions for its latest nuclear test, which was its biggest and most powerful to date, is unlikely to heed Park's call and there is little Seoul can do to influence its bellicose neighbour.
Park's choices boil down to paying off Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear weapons plan, which would cost hundreds of millions of dollars and failed in 2006 when the North exploded its first nuclear bomb. Alternatively, Seoul could try to further isolate the North, a move that resulted in the 2010 sinking of a South Korean ship and the shelling of a South Korean island.
Referring to the fast economic growth under her father's rule, which drove war-torn South Korea from poverty to the ranks of the world's richest nations, Park urged Koreans to re-create the spirit of the "Miracle on the Han".
Park wants to create new jobs, in a country where young people often complain of a lack of opportunities, and boost welfare, although she hasn't spelled out how she will do either.
Growth in South Korea has fallen sharply since the days of Park's father who oversaw periods of 10 percent plus economic expansion. The Bank of Korea expects the economy to grow just 2.8 percent this year and 2.8 percent in 2014.
Park also faces a challenge from a resurgent Japan whose exports have risen sharply after new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe embarked on a policy to weaken the yen currency.
The won has jumped five percent in 2013 against the yen after a 23 percent gain in 2012, boosting the competitiveness of Japanese exports of cars and electronics against the same goods that South Korean firms produce.
Park last week said she would take "pre-emptive" action on the weak yen, but has yet to specify what action she will take.
(Additional reporting by Jack Kim; Editing by David Chance and Michael Perry)
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Wolfgang Sawallisch "Overture" Der fliegende Holl�・nder
München (dapd). Der Pianist und Dirigent Wolfgang Sawallisch ist tot. Er starb am Freitag im Alter von 89 Jahren im oberbayerischen Grassau, wie das zuständige Bestattungsunternehmen Karl Albert Denk am Sonntag in München auf dapd-Anfrage sagte.
Der 1923 geborene Sawallisch war Generalmusikdirektor an zahlreichen Häusern Deutschlands, darunter am Theater Aachen, in Wiesbaden, Hamburg und Köln. Rund 20 Jahre lang wirkte er zudem an der Bayerischen Staatsoper, war dort Generalmusikdirektor, zwischenzeitlich Intendant und schließlich Staatsoperndirektor. Sawallisch war auch international erfolgreich und anerkannt. Jahrelang leitete er die Wiener Philharmoniker als Chefdirigent und reiste regelmäßig für Gastauftritte ins Ausland, wiederholt nach Tokio.
Als Pianist machte er sich ebenfalls einen Namen und begleitete unter anderem die Sänger Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau und Elisabeth Schwarzkopf.
Sawallisch erhielt zahlreiche Preise, darunter den Bayerischen Verdienstorden, das Bundesverdienstkreuz und den Bayerischen Maximiliansorden für Wissenschaft und Kunst.
Bradford defender Rory McArdle could be in contention. The 25-year-old, who hurt his ankle at Fleetwood nearly three weeks ago, returned to training earlier this week as he continues to try and push himself back into the squad in time. Should McArdle pass a late fitness test he is still likely to face competition from the fit-again Andrew Davies, plus fellow centre-backs Michael Nelson and Carl McHugh. Zavon Hines is pushing for a place on the wing despite not featuring in City's previous two league games. Kyel Reid is battling for a starting role but Hines may get the nod from manager Phil Parkinson having started in both semi-final legs against Aston Villa. Forward Garry Thompson is expected to start but there will be a free berth in attack with Andy Gray ineligible having already featured in the competition for Leeds.
Swansea defender Chico Flores has had to admit defeat in his battle to return to fitness. The Spaniard has failed to recover from the ruptured ankle ligaments he suffered against QPR, so Kyle Bartley or club captain Garry Monk will slot in alongside Ashley Williams. Gerhard Tremmel will start in goal, while Michu, Wayne Routledge and Angel Rangel will also return after being rested for the thumping defeat at Liverpool last weekend.
MANAGER QUOTES
Phil Parkinson: “We’ve done well so far in this competition and we go to Wembley as massive underdogs, but you never know in football. We want to give a good account of ourselves and do the city of Bradford proud. There have been a few shocks this year, we have created a few ourselves. It’s been great for football at all levels and it has shown that upsets can be done. But we have got enormous respect for Swansea. We must accept that Swansea will have a lot of possession because they have 65 per cent of the ball against Premier League teams. We will have to play way above our normal level and hope that Swansea have a really bad day to bring the teams closer together. If that happens, then you never know.”
Michael Laudrup: “Obviously I haven’t been here during those (hard) times, but it must be very special for (players like Garry Monk, Leon Britton and Alan Tate). For the new players here it is also a special a game, because it is that first final – that is always a great occasion. Some of them have played some huge games, but Sunday will be a special day for them and they can’t wait. I’ll tell them to enjoy it, because it may be the first and last time that they play in a final.”
MATCH FACTS
Bradford City have become only the second team from the fourth tier to reach the League Cup final; the other was Rochdale, who lost 0-3 to Norwich City in 1962.
The last team from outside the top-flight to win the League Cup were Sheffield Wednesday, who beat Manchester United in 1991. Since then, five other teams have made the showpiece, including Cardiff City last season, but all have been defeated.
Only three of the 12 teams from outside the top division to face a top-flight side in the League Cup final have won the competition (QPR 1967, Swindon Town 1969, Sheffield Wednesday 1991).
The Bantams are looking to become only the second team from outside the top-flight (Sheffield Wednesday 1991) to eliminate four top tier sides from the same League Cup competition.
This will be Bradford’s first appearance in a major domestic final since 1911, when they beat Newcastle United 1-0 in a replay to lift their only FA Cup.
Swansea, meanwhile, have never before made the final of a major domestic cup.
Three of the last four clashes between the Swans and the Bantams (all played in League One between 2005/06 and 2006/07) have ended level, with the Welsh side winning the other 1-0.
Overall, these sides have a completely overall record; in 54 previous meetings (all in the league), they have won 20 apiece and drawn 14.
Swansea have only won two of their last eight games in all competitions (D3 L3) and have failed to score in six of those games.
Michael Laudrup’s side have not scored a goal away from the Liberty Stadium since a 2-0 victory at Stamford Bridge in the Capital One Cup semi-final back in early January.
The Welsh side have scored a goal inside the final 10 minutes of five of their six Capital One Cup games this season; the exception being a 0-0 second-leg draw at home to Chelsea in the semi-final.
Bradford have only won two of their last 11 games in all competitions, drawing two and losing seven.
Phil Parkinson’s side have won their last nine successive penalty shootouts, a record for any English club, including two already in this Capital One Cup competition (v Wigan and Arsenal).
Swansea manager Michael Laudrup twice won the Danish Cup whilst in charge of Brondby (2002/03, 2004/05) and also reached the Copa Del Rey final with Getafe in 2007/08 before losing to Valencia.