LEAD: S. Korean president to propose permanent diplomatic channel with North: report

WASHINGTON, April 17 Kyodo

(EDS: ADD INFO)

South Korean President Lee Myung Bak has said he will propose setting up a high-level diplomatic channel between North Korea and South Korea, including creating the first liaison offices in the two nations' capitals, the Washington Post reported in its online edition on Thursday.

Lee unveiled the policy in an interview with editors and reporters of the Washington Post, according to the newspaper.

The United States has long urged Seoul to take this step, but this is the first time it has been officially proposed by a South Korean president.

Lee has said that the relationship between Seoul and Pyongyang must take a back seat to eliminating North Korea's nuclear weapons programs, the paper said, terming the remarks as indicating a significant shift from the more conciliatory policy of his predecessor.

''Both North and South Korea must change their ways,'' Lee was quoted as saying. ''It is not sufficient for North Korea to resort to their old ways.''

To that end, he said, he wanted to establish a permanent channel so the two countries could have a regular dialogue, rather than intermittent contacts elicited by crises, according to the newspaper. Lee added offices should be headed by officials with direct access to the leaders of each country.

''Between the two Koreas we need to always have dialogue going on,'' Lee said. ''In the past, we had dialogue between the two Koreas whenever there was a need, and when there wasn't a need, the dialogue would close. I don't think that is helpful.''

On the six-party negotiations with North Korea over eliminating its nuclear program, Lee embraced the recent proposal by the United States to have the North ''acknowledge'' U.S. concerns and evidence about its apparent efforts to enrich uranium and its suspected nuclear trade with Syria, according to the paper.

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