The presidential office denies recent reports that claimed President Lee Myung-bak had ordered hard-line policies toward North Korea.

In a regular news briefing Monday, presidential spokesman Lee Dong-kwan said that, unlike what is being claimed in the media reports, the president had not complained about why the government had stayed mum against North Korea’s slandering at the policy meeting on foreign affairs and security last month.

The spokesman went on to say that the government’s policy on North Korea is to seek mutual benefit and common prosperity. Moreover, Seoul will make efforts so that Pyongyang will become a responsible member of the international community and its people will enjoy freedom and peace.

On the recently released photos of smiling North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, Cheong Wa Dae agreed with the Unification Ministry that it is hard to confirm Kim’s health status based on the photos.