S. Koreans support aid-for-denuclearization policy for N. Korea

SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- More than two-thirds of South Koreans said they support
their government's policy linking economic aid to Pyongyang's denuclearization, a
private poll showed Monday.

The poll, conducted by the Korea Economic Research Institute, found that 68.4
percent of the respondents said they were supportive of the
aid-for-denuclearization policy by the government of President Lee Myung-bak,
whereas 27.2 percent said they didn't support it.
The poll, which has an error margin of plus or minus 3.46 percentage points, was
based on telephone interviews of 800 adults in January.
Inter-Korean relations have deteriorated since the government of President Lee
was inaugurated in February last year with a policy to get tough with North
Korea, which conducted its first nuclear test with a plutonium-based device in
2006.
In recent weeks, North Korea has stepped up its verbal attacks against South
Korea, saying it will adopt an "all-out confrontational posture" and nullified a
nonaggression pact and other accords with the South on easing tensions in the
Korean Peninsula.
On Sunday, the North's state media leveled up its criticism against what it calls
the South's confrontational policy, warning it "may lead to an uncontrollable and
unavoidable military conflict and a war."
Despite the stepped-up saber-rattling by the communist neighbor, President Lee
has claimed a "wait and see" approach is the most viable policy option.
(END)