By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter
South Korea remains undecided whether or not to suspend promised energy aid to North Korea, Vice Minister of Unification Hong Yang-ho said Monday.
In a meeting with foreign correspondents in Seoul, Hong said the Seoul government will likely finalize its stance on the issue by mid-October when production of promised materials is completed.
Seoul produced 1,500 of 3,000 tons of materials and facilities promised in return for denuclearizing the Stalinist state and was scheduled to make the remaining 1,500 tones by next month.
Hong indicated, however, that North Korea's move to restore its nuclear facilities may affect the promised assistance, stressing Seoul finds it inappropriate that the nuclear disarmament is suspended.
On the same day, Foreign Ministry spokesman Moon Tae-young said it is unavoidable to suspend the aid if the North continues to restore its nuclear facilities in Yongbyon.
He added that Seoul is discussing the aid issue with other participants of the six-party talks and keeping a close eye on North Korea's moves.
Last Friday, the North Korean Foreign Ministry confirmed that it is making ``thorough preparations'' to restart the Yongbyon nuclear facilities, blaming the United States for failing to remove the regime from a U.S. list of states sponsoring terrorism.
The Yongbyon reactor's main cooling tower was demolished in June.
In regard to food aid to the famine-hit country, the vice minister reiterated that the South will unconditionally support the North in a humanitarian way.
The ministry is weighing when and how to send food assistance to Pyongyang, he added.