Anchor: The Foreign Ministry says stability on the Korean Peninsula will be its key diplomatic policy goal this year. The goal is largely tied to greater uncertainty it must cope with in inter-Korean relations following the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. Our Kim In-kyung has more.

Report: The Foreign Ministry says it will work closely with the U.S., China, Japan and Russia to maintain stability on the Korean Peninsula. The ministry said it will also induce a change in North Korea's attitude regarding South-North relations. Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan Thursday reported the plan to President Lee Myung-bak while briefing him on his ministry’s projects for this year.

During the briefing, Kim reiterated its "grand bargain" offer to the North which guarantees aid and security if the North gives up its nuclear arms program. The minister said it will exert efforts so North Korea will accept denuclearization measures as soon as possible including halting its uranium enrichment program.

A government official said Pyongyang’s understanding of the grand bargain has deepened through inter-Korea talks, adding the ministry will continue to enhance the North’s understanding of the deal when six-party talks resume.

The ministry's policy comes as uncertainty has escalated on the Korean Peninsula following the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. The ministry is known to have changed most of the content in its New Year briefing to the president as Kim died while the ministry was preparing it.

Regarding South Korea's diplomacy toward the U.S., the ministry said it will hold meetings between foreign and defense ministers of the two countries on a regular basis. The ministry also said it will continue to advance the South Korea-U.S. alliance and achieve results from the Korea-U.S. free-trade agreement.

Kim In-kyung, KBS World Radio News.