SEOUL, South Korea – Park Geun-hye, daughter of a divisive military strongman from South Korea’s authoritarian era, was elected the country’s first female president Wednesday, a landmark win that could mean a new drive to start talks with rival North Korea.

After five years of high tension under unpopular incumbent Lee Myung-bak, Park has vowed to pursue engagement and step up aid to North Korea, despite the latter’s widely condemned long-range rocket launch last week.

North Korean state media, however, have repeatedly questioned the sincerity of Park’s North Korea policy since she and Lee are from the same conservative party.