Door for dialogue with North 'always open' says president of South Korea

SEOUL, Dec. 24 (UPI) -- South Korean President Park Geun-hye said the door for dialogue with North Korea is "always open," and in a separate message on her Facebook page praised Mark Zuckerberg for his philanthropy.

Park made her remarks regarding the North during her visit to the South Korean Army's 28th Division in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province, Money Today reported Thursday.

The visit marked the second time Park has visited with troops at the border. In December 2013, Park visited the general outpost of the South Korean military on the eastern and central fronts.

"The door is always open for dialogue with North Korea," Park said during her visit, "But inter-Korea relations can move forward, and the foundation for peace and unification is possible only if we stand by the principle of military preparedness."

Park also said the 28th Division played a critical role in security in August, when tensions escalated along the border after land mine explosions injured two South Korean soldiers.

Park's equally important policy priority, the economy, came into focus in her Christmas Eve Facebook post.

Yonhap reported the South Korean president, who wants to move the country toward a "creative economy," wrote that she had recently exchanged emails with Zuckerberg.

Park said she had high regard for Zuckerberg's decision to donate 99 percent of his Facebook shares to charity, which was valued to be $45 billion early December.

According to Park, the Facebook founder had said in his email correspondence that he held Park's leadership in high esteem, and that he looked forward to meeting her again.

Park and Zuckerberg first met in person in June 2013, when the Facebook founder visited Park at the presidential Blue House.

Yonhap reported he previously has gifted Park athletic attire with the South Korean flag engraved on the clothing.