South Korea's political parties on Monday continued their heated debate over what measures to take following a resolution by the U.N. over North Korea's reported nuclear test.
The ruling Uri Party called for diplomatic means to defuse the tension over the North's nuclear test and direct talks between Washington and Pyongyang.
But the main opposition Grand National Party (GNP) insisted that South Korea actively implement the resolution and bring the inter-Korean economic projects in Kaesong and Mount Geumgang in the communist state to a halt.
The GNP even threatened to curtail budgets allocated by local administrations for aiding North Korea, noting that most provincial governments are controlled by GNP-affiliated leaders.
On Sunday, the U.N. Security Council unanimously adopted the resolution which authorizes far-reaching, non-military sanctions on North Korea.
The communist state drew international condemnation after proclaiming last week that it performed a successful nuclear test.
The resolution requires the international community to prevent the sale or transfer of materials related to Pyongyang's unconventional weapons programs, as well as demands nations freeze funds overseas of people or businesses connected with North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
"It is fortunate that the international society chose a flag of peace," Kim Geun-tae, chairman of the Uri Party, said during an emergency meeting with related ministers and the chief presidential aide to unification, diplomacy and security affairs.
"The government must take the resolution as a guideline (for its policy toward North Korea) and keep the current level of its participation in the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI)," Kim said in the meeting at the National Assembly.
The government officials who attended the meeting were Unification Minister Lee Jong-seok, Defense Minister Yoon Kwang-ung, Vice Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan and Seo Joo-seok, the president's security advisor.
They agreed it was a relief that the council adopted non-military measures against the North, but thought it likely that individual countries such as the U.S. and Japan may push for a far stronger response, according to a participant who requested anonymity.
South Korea has not formally joined the PSI, an initiative involving more than 70 countries hoping to work together against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
The PSI, introduced in 2003, calls for the interdiction of vessels and airliners suspected of carrying WMD or related materials.
Despite continued U.S. requests, South Korea has been reluctant to take part in the initiative in consideration of the unique geopolitical situation on the Korean Peninsula.
Kim Han-gill, floor leader of the party, agreed that it was fortunate that military measures were dropped from the U.N. resolution. "But economic sanctions should not be the cause of the use of military forces," he stressed.
He also urged Washington to hold direct talks with Pyongyang to discuss the nuclear issue. "Bilateral talks between North Korea and the United States would provide the most clear solution to the nuclear crisis and the shortcut to dismantling the North's nuclear program," he said.
However, Kang Jae-sup, chairman of the GNP, called for Seoul to play a leading role in implementing the sanctions.
"The U.N. resolution contains the minimum measures that should be carried out by all member nations in common," Kang said during a steering committee meeting. "The government must stand in the forefront in implementing the resolution until the North's nuclear program is dismantled."
Kim Hyong-o, floor leader of the party, claimed the halting of the Mount Geumgang tour and Kaesong industrial park operations, which he alleged were channels for funneling South Korean cash into the North, would be line with the U.N. resolution.
"We will do whatever we can do to prevent local administrations from using any penny from their budgets allocated for helping North Korea," Kim said.
The GNP said its officials will join a variety of anti-nuclear rallies by civic groups to promote the party's demand that inter-Korean cooperation projects be discontinued.
Kang encouraged the party's leading presidential candidates to attend a massive rally set to open this weekend to oppose the North's nuclear armament, according to Yoo Ki-june, a party spokesman.
In a related move, heads of the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea and the European Union Chamber of Commerce in Korea (EUCCK) urged the government to join the international community in sanctioning North Korea based on the U.N. resolution, Yoo said.
They made the call during a luncheon meeting with Kang, the spokesman added.
Seoul, Oct. 16 (Yonhap News)
Political parties remain divided over U.N. resolution on N. Korea |
