Prime Minister Goh Kunon of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Saturday pledged he will do his best to lead local people overcome difficulties facing the nation.

Goh, who now is acting president of the country, made this pledge in a televised speech to the whole nation.

ROK President Roh Moo-hyun on Friday was impeached by the opposition-controlled National Assembly on charges of election law violation, corruption and poor management of the economy.

Goh took over Roh's constitutional powers as the head of state, chief executive of the government and commander in chief of the Army for up to 180 days, during which the Constitutional Court is expected to make a final ruling on the fate of Roh.

"As the manager of state affairs under the Constitution, I will try my best to overcome the difficulties facing the nation with the utmost determination and sense of responsibility," Goh said.

"In the first place, the army will strengthen its defense awareness so as not to allow the national defense system to have a chasm," he said.

The government will also proceed with the dispatch of troops to Iraq, consolidation of the ROK-US alliance, the six-party talks on the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula and other outstanding foreign affairs agenda as scheduled, in a coherent manner, Goh said.

"Secondly, we will focus on stabilizing the economy and protecting people's livelihood," he said.

The acting president said the government will make efforts to stabilize the financial market so as not to allow the impeachment to adversely influence the nation's sovereign credibility.

Goh also said he would redouble efforts to establish public security in the present political situation.

"I will strengthen policing efforts to make sure that illegal collective actions do not happen and the domestic security order is not shaken. I will strictly exercise law enforcement power in accordance with the law for the sake of social stabilization," he said.

The premier also vowed to be a fair manager in the April parliamentary general elections.

"I will manage the April general elections with a strict neutrality. I will do my best to realize fair elections. I will sternly crack down on illegal election campaigning...while ensuring the neutrality of public officials will be maintained," he said.

Goh said he would consistently push ahead with all the national projects and tasks that the Roh administration has been working on so far.

"I once again pledge to put all my energy into overcoming this national hardship. I ask the Constitutional Court to shorten the period of its deliberations as much as possible," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 13, 2004)