President Lee Myung-bak indirectly called on Japan to reflect on its wrongdoings during its colonial rule of Korea, in his speech at the University of Oslo.
He spoke at length about 'Nordic Peace,' referring to nearly a century of peace in Northern Europe, and said East Asia could learn a lesson from the example.
President Lee also stressed the importance of historical awareness, and said it was a precursor for true peace and reconciliation.


[Interview : President Lee Myung-bak] "European history shows that proper historical consciousness and sincere reflection of past wrongdoings were the basis of genuine peace and the driving force of what turned Europe into what it is today."

The president's words were in line with comments made by Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan earlier in the day.
Kim told reporters in Oslo that Seoul would NOT compromise with Japan over territorial or historical issues, even though they are separate from security and economic cooperation between the two countries.
Meanwhile, later in the day, President Lee attended a Korea-Norway business roundtable and said that the two economies are very complementary, and therefore, have great potential to grow further together.
With regard to an Arctic sea route project Korea is planning to push ahead with Norway


[Reporter : President Lee Myung-bak] "In particular, if Norway cooperates with us, its future will be bright, as it will have a new sea route to Asia."

The Korean president also met with Norwegian polar scientists at the Fram Museum, which tells the story of Norway's polar expeditions from the early 1890s to the 1990s, and expressed his expectation for strengthened cooperation in Arctic research.


[Interview : Eoh Jin-joo
jjeoh@arirang.co.kr] "On his third and last day here in Norway, President Lee is scheduled to meet with Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, where the two sides will discuss ways to cooperate in resources development, an Arctic sea route project, and green growth. A joint press conference will follow the meeting.
Eoh Jin-joo, Arirang News, Oslo."

Reporter : jjeoh@arirang.co.kr