Jun Ji-hye, a reporter at the finance desk of The Korea Times, focuses primarily on economic policy and government agencies, mainly covering the Ministry of Finance and Economy, the Ministry of Budget and Planning, the National Tax Service and the Korea Customs Service. She previously covered financial authorities, including the Financial Services Commission and the Financial Supervisory Service, and earlier worked on the political, city and business desks, reporting on a wide range of issues.
NK threatens to nix inter-Korean meeting
By Jun Ji-hye
North Korea threatened Sunday to cancel a high-level meeting with South Korea through its official mouthpiece two days after an exchange of fire across the demilitarized zone.
In response, the Ministry of Unification said that if the North did not participate in the meeting, it would constitute a breach of trust.
The latest warning, delivered by the North Korean state-run Rodong Sinmun newspaper, is the second threat regarding the meeting. However, no confirmation by any government body been made to date.
The two sides agreed to meet in a rare sign of reconciliation during a surprise visit by a delegation of top North Korean officials to the closing ceremony of the Incheon Asian Games on Oct. 4.
The Rodong Sinmun said, “Spreading anti-Pyongyang leaflets is part of flagrant psychological warfare that could lead to a military clash. The relationship is lurching toward catastrophe, making a high-level meeting irrelevant.”
South Korean activists, led by North Korean defectors, flew balloons carrying leaflets containing anti-North Korea messages across the border.
The North fired anti-aircraft guns at the balloons, with some rounds landing in a residential area in Yeoncheon, just south of the border. This prompted Army border guards to return fire.
The North has demanded a halt to the sending of balloons, but Seoul responded that it was a civilian affair that it couldn’t interfere with.
North Korea marked the 69th anniversary of the founding of its ruling Workers’ Party, Friday. Leader Kim Jong-un ― who hasn’t appeared in public for 40 days ― was absent from the ceremony.
The clash also took place on Oct. 7 when naval vessels exchanged fire in the West Sea, after a North Korean patrol boat crossed the Northern Limit Line, the de facto maritime border between the two Koreas.
This came two days after the visit to Incheon by Hwang Pyong-so, Choe Ryong-hae and Kim Yang-gon, who are the closest confidants of Kim Jong-un.
During the visit, Seoul and Pyongyang agreed to hold a second round of high-level talks in late October or early November to discuss various pending issues, including holding a reunion of families separated during the 1950-53 Korean War.
The first round of talks, during which both sides agreed on ceasing mutual slander, took place in February.
“Seoul will review a possible schedule and agenda for the talks, and deliver its opinion to Pyongyang,” said an official from the Ministry of Unification, Sunday.
Regarding the leaflet campaign, the official said it was a matter that civic groups needed to decide upon, but noted “the ministry has demanded the groups make a wise decision.”
He added: “Previously, the government took an appropriate measure when its people faced security problems. We will keep applying this stance.”
He indicated that the government could restrict the leaflet campaign, considering the safety of residents in the border area.
Prime Minister Chung Hong-won also called for the North to attend the meeting.
“Pyongyang’s sincere participation in talks will make meaningful progress in inter-Korean ties,” he said during an appearance at a sports event for North Korean defectors.
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