S.Korean President to propose permanent diplomatic link with North

US: South Korean President Lee Myung-bak will propose creating a permanent high-level diplomatic channel between the North and South, including establishing the first liaison offices in the nations' capitals after nearly six decades of division, The Washington Post reported Friday.

"Both North and South Korea must change their ways," Lee said in an interview with the newspaper's editors and reporters.

Lee embraced the recent U.S. proposal to have North Korea "acknowledge" U.S. concerns and evidence about its apparent efforts to enrich uranium and its suspected nuclear trading with Syria, rather than provide its own dossier on such activities, the Post said.

Lee said the solution would offer North Korea "an indirect way to being involved in these two activities," therefore allowing the stalled negotiations to move forward.

Lee, a former construction chief executive nicknamed "The Bulldozer" for his determination to get things done, took office this year after a decade of rule in which South Korea has sought to reconcile with the North.

The Bush administration has praised Lee's insistence that the North follow through on nuclear pledges before receiving aid from its southern neighbor and rival - a significant shift from his predecessor's policy.

Friday, AP