S Korean FM calls on N Korea to abandon military-first policy

South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan on Wednesday urged North Korea to give up its military-first policy and put resources that it lavishes on the armed services toward improving the livelihood of its own people, Yonhap News Agency reported. "North Korea's new leadership has expressed its willingness toward economic development and improvement of people's livelihoods, but it remains to be seen whether it will lead to a practical change," Kim was quoted as saying at a forum in Seoul. "For a real change, North Korea must give up its military-first policy and channel resources to improve its economy and the livelihood of its people," he said. The North's new leader Kim Jong-un succeeded his late father, Kim Jong-il, last December. The foreign minister also said North Korea has tried to influence the South's presidential election in December. "North Korea is still taking a hostile attitude towards us and strengthening an offense of public opinion against the South," Kim said. Concerns persist that North Korea might carry out a third underground nuclear test after its much-hyped launch of a long-range missile fizzled in April. North Korea's previous launches of long-range missiles in 2006 and 2009 were followed by nuclear tests. The international community has warned that North Korea, already under UN sanctions for the nuclear tests, will face tougher sanctions if it goes ahead with another test. Both Koreas remain technically at war as the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce not a peace treaty.