South Korean President Lee Myung-bak will propose renewed policy directions towards the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in pursuit of regional peace, the presidential office said Friday.

"(The president) will present broader plans on politics, economy, military, and security to establish a system of peace on the Korean Peninsula," the presidential office said in a press release.

The president is to once again clarify that his government will aggressively push for assisting the DPRK in the economic, education, financial and infrastructure sectors once the DPRK quits its nuclear program, it added.

The proposal comes one day after the DPRK released a South Korean employee, who has been detained in the nation for 137 days, hinting that the DPRK may have backed off from its hardline stance.

The pledge is to be made during President Lee's speech Saturday to celebrate the nation's Independence Day.

Lee's speech will also include a call for national unity, highlighting the need for "a central, practical approach" in order to create a driving force for unity that will overcome any division or confrontation, according to the press release.

With respect to policies for middle- or low-income earners, President Lee will set income, employment, education, living, and security as five indices to stabilize quality of life, it added.

On last year's Independence Day speech, the first in his term, President Lee focused on blueprints for the future, including "green growth" strategies.

(Xinhua News Agency August 14, 2009)