Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso said Friday that Tokyo has full understanding of Seoul's pursuit of inter-Korean cooperation projects, such as the Mount Geumgang tourism project and an industrial park in the North Korean city of Kaesong.
During his courtesy call on South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun at his office Cheong Wa Dae, Aso said the South Korean government should be allowed to make an independent decision on whether to continue the inter-Korean projects.
"The United States and Japan understand South Korea's position (regarding the Geumgang and Kaesong projects). Any specific positions or pressure cannot be imposed on South Korea," Aso told President Roh.
In response, the president said that his government will fully examine the purport of the United Nations Security Council's latest weapons and financial sanctions on North Korea before determining its final stance on the Geumgang and Kaesong projects.
South Korea is reportedly unwilling to give up the Mount Geumgang and Kaesong investments despite some concerns that the inter-Korean projects may undermine international efforts to terminate the North's nuclear weapons program.
Song Min-soon, the chief presidential secretary for security, has said the government will consider implementing systematic changes for the tours and the Kaesong industrial park in accordance with the Security Council's resolution sanctioning North Korea for its nuclear bomb test on Oct. 9.
Seoul, Oct. 20 (Yonhap News)
Japan's foreign minister says Seoul has final say on Geumgang and Kaesong projects |
