US apparently displeased with Seoul's peace drive
By Park Ji-won
The U.S. Department of Defense reiterated its firm stance of maintaining sanctions on North Korea right after the two Koreas agreed at high-level talks Monday to reconnect railways and roads.
This is the latest sign of a row between Seoul and Washington over how to handle North Korea as the former is pushing for eased sanctions to reactivate inter-Korean projects.
According to Radio Free Asia, U.S. Pentagon Spokesman Christopher Logan said, "The United Nations Command (UNC) will ensure compliance with the Armistice Agreement and its implementation under current circumstances considering the spirits of the inter-Korean and Singapore summits."
On whether the South had discussed with the UNC or the Pentagon about a joint inspection in North Korea for connecting the railways which is scheduled to start late this month, Logan said, "We are not going to comment on individual aspects of the agreements or speculate on future events."
His remarks indicate the Trump administration is not yet willing to soften or lift sanctions on North Korea.
The U.S. has been insisting on continuing the pressure unless the North takes some tangible measures regarding denuclearization.
According to U.N. Security Council Resolution 2397, all member states shall prohibit the direct or indirect supply, sale or transfer to North Korea, of all industrial machinery, transportation vehicles, iron, steel, and other metals.
Media reported that U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo expressed discontent over the South's move during a recent phone conversation with Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-hwa.
Kang said during a National Assembly audit last week that the sanctions imposed against Pyongyang were under review. Her remarks drew criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump immediately.
"They won't do it without our approval. They do nothing without our approval," Trump said.
Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon later emphasized the alliance with the U.S. by saying "South Korea never considered lifting sanctions against North Korea." Also, after Monday's meeting with the North, Cho said "(we are) closely discussing (with the UNC.)"
Diplomacy for N. Korea?
Meanwhile, President Moon Jae-in went to European countries to call for international cooperation to ease sanctions against North Korea but adjusting his remarks in a way to emphasize the North's willingness to scrap all nuclear facilities and missile test sites rather than merely seeking to lift sanction.
"During the summit, President Moon told Macron that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un offered to completely dismantle all his regime's nuclear weapons and material. The North Korean leader also said he will scrap all nuclear facilities and missile test sites," chief presidential secretary Yoon Young-chan said in a media briefing after the South Korea-France summit.
Experts point out the possibility that the South's "verbal only" mediator role could lead the country to become isolated from the international community by failing to directly urge the North to denuclearize. South Korean companies could get into trouble by going around the U.S. sanction.
"If the U.S. considers South Korea to be violating the sanctions against the North and ignoring the U.S.'s warning, some say although relations between the South and the U.S. are okay as they are allies, the U.S. can still impose sanctions against South Korean companies," said a researcher at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies.
"Moon adjusted his remarks with the consideration that there might be a possibility to cause conflict between Seoul and the U.S. Basically the government will not risk violating sanctions while still wanting economic cooperation between the two Koreas."
"It is the reality that South Korea should tell the North to denuclearize. It is okay for now as there is a deterrent, which is the South-U.S. alliance. But if the alliance weakens, foreign companies will withdraw their money from South Korea."
By Park Ji-won
The U.S. Department of Defense reiterated its firm stance of maintaining sanctions on North Korea right after the two Koreas agreed at high-level talks Monday to reconnect railways and roads.
This is the latest sign of a row between Seoul and Washington over how to handle North Korea as the former is pushing for eased sanctions to reactivate inter-Korean projects.
According to Radio Free Asia, U.S. Pentagon Spokesman Christopher Logan said, "The United Nations Command (UNC) will ensure compliance with the Armistice Agreement and its implementation under current circumstances considering the spirits of the inter-Korean and Singapore summits."
On whether the South had discussed with the UNC or the Pentagon about a joint inspection in North Korea for connecting the railways which is scheduled to start late this month, Logan said, "We are not going to comment on individual aspects of the agreements or speculate on future events."
His remarks indicate the Trump administration is not yet willing to soften or lift sanctions on North Korea.
The U.S. has been insisting on continuing the pressure unless the North takes some tangible measures regarding denuclearization.
According to U.N. Security Council Resolution 2397, all member states shall prohibit the direct or indirect supply, sale or transfer to North Korea, of all industrial machinery, transportation vehicles, iron, steel, and other metals.
Media reported that U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo expressed discontent over the South's move during a recent phone conversation with Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-hwa.
Kang said during a National Assembly audit last week that the sanctions imposed against Pyongyang were under review. Her remarks drew criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump immediately.
"They won't do it without our approval. They do nothing without our approval," Trump said.
Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon later emphasized the alliance with the U.S. by saying "South Korea never considered lifting sanctions against North Korea." Also, after Monday's meeting with the North, Cho said "(we are) closely discussing (with the UNC.)"
Diplomacy for N. Korea?
Meanwhile, President Moon Jae-in went to European countries to call for international cooperation to ease sanctions against North Korea but adjusting his remarks in a way to emphasize the North's willingness to scrap all nuclear facilities and missile test sites rather than merely seeking to lift sanction.
"During the summit, President Moon told Macron that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un offered to completely dismantle all his regime's nuclear weapons and material. The North Korean leader also said he will scrap all nuclear facilities and missile test sites," chief presidential secretary Yoon Young-chan said in a media briefing after the South Korea-France summit.
Experts point out the possibility that the South's "verbal only" mediator role could lead the country to become isolated from the international community by failing to directly urge the North to denuclearize. South Korean companies could get into trouble by going around the U.S. sanction.
"If the U.S. considers South Korea to be violating the sanctions against the North and ignoring the U.S.'s warning, some say although relations between the South and the U.S. are okay as they are allies, the U.S. can still impose sanctions against South Korean companies," said a researcher at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies.
"Moon adjusted his remarks with the consideration that there might be a possibility to cause conflict between Seoul and the U.S. Basically the government will not risk violating sanctions while still wanting economic cooperation between the two Koreas."
"It is the reality that South Korea should tell the North to denuclearize. It is okay for now as there is a deterrent, which is the South-U.S. alliance. But if the alliance weakens, foreign companies will withdraw their money from South Korea."
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