Park Geun-hye sworn in as South Korea’s first female president

Park Geun-hye was sworn in as South Korea's first female president Monday in the wake of increasing threats from North Korea. Ms. Park vowed to secure the South against the threats of a growingly hostile Pyongyang.

Park, who defeated liberal opponent Moon Jae-in in December's general election, pledged to initiate an era of economic revitalization and take a tougher stance on national security issues as she was sworn in as the country’s president in front of thousands of people in Seoul.

"North Korea's recent nuclear test is a challenge to the survival and future of the Korean people, and there should be no mistake that the biggest victim will be none other than North Korea itself," she said, according to CNN. "I urge North Korea to abandon its nuclear ambitions without delay and embark on the path to peace and shared development."

The 61-year-old Park is the daughter of former military strongman Park Chung-hee and the first woman to become the president of South Korea. Her father ruled South Korea for almost twenty years.

Park succeeded President Lee Myung-bak of her own party, the Saenuri Party. Mr. Lee stepped down as per the provision of the South’s constitution that a president must step down after completing five-year tenure.

Ms. Park reiterated that she would follow a policy of “trustpoltik” that will be grounded on deterrence fastened together with careful approach to Pyongyang.

She said she plans to start an era of pleasant union where all Koreans can spend quality lives and where they can make their dreams come true. Ms. Park endorsed that Seoul stood at a new point in time, facing up to the difficulties of the international economic crisis.

"Trust can be built through dialogue and by honoring promises that have already been made," she said, according to BBC. "It is my hope that North Korea will abide by international norms and make the right choice so that the trust-building process on the Korean Peninsula can move forward."

It is pertinent to mention here that South Korea’s economic growth has dwindled, calls for equal distribution of wealth is gaining momentum on the national political stage and young people are in short supply to meet the manpower demand of its industries.