A lawmaker says President-elect Lee Myung-bak has sent a message to North Korea in his New Year’s news conference.

The incoming president urged the North to stick to a series of six-way denuclearization agreements which he said would usher in an age of inter-Korean cooperation.

According to Representative Park Hyung-jun, a member of the presidential transition team, the president-elect meant that everything will go smoothly if the North Korean nuclear issue is resolved.

The incoming president said closer ties between South Korea and the U.S. will help Pyongyang improve its relations with Washington as well now that a multilateral international order has been established.

Park interpreted the remarks as advice for Pyongyang not to be overly sensitive about any change in ties between Seoul and Washington.

He added that the president-elect expected neighboring countries to serve as a buffer between the two Koreas.

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