South Korea says no change to North Korean sanctions

SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea has never considered lifting the sanctions imposed on North Korea for the sinking of a South Korean warship in 2010, said Thursday the minister of South Korea. Unification, Cho Myoung-Gyon.

South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said on Wednesday that the sanctions imposed on Pyongyang following a torpedo attack on a corvette that killed 46 South Korean sailors in 2010, were in danger. revision course.

North Korea has denied any involvement in the sinking.

Kang's remarks on sanctions, withdrawn as a result of criticism from South Korean lawmakers, led US President Donald Trump to say that South Korea would need US approval to lift the sanctions.

"They will not do it without our approval. They do nothing without our approval, "Trump told reporters, asked about his comments.

Trump said the sanctions would remain in force until North Korea becomes nuclear-free.

Kang retracted his remarks after facing criticism from some conservative lawmakers that sanctions could only be lifted if North Korea apologized for the attack, a stance taken by the former Korean governments. from South.

The sanctions prohibit all North Korean vessels entering South Korean ports and most inter-Korean trade, including tourism, commerce and aid.

"It will take action on the issue of the warship Cheonan, who was behind the sanctions," said Cho during a parliamentary audit.

Trump's comments sparked a heated debate in South Korea, with some conservative lawmakers calling them "insults".

"Approval is a strong and insulting word that means we are moving too fast with the North without seeking a consensus with the United States," said Kim Jae-kyung, a member of a Conservative opposition party.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in has continued the thaw of its cross-border relations by holding three summits with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un this year. The third summit held last month in Pyongyang was aimed in part at saving talks on the nuclear failure between the North and the United States.

At their last meeting, Moon and Kim decided to resume their economic cooperation and that construction work should be undertaken during this year to restore the rail and road links. They also agreed to reopen a joint industrial park in the northern border town of Kaesong and to make trips to Mount Kumgang when conditions are right.

In a rare sign of contention between Seoul and Washington, Kang said on Wednesday that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had expressed "dissatisfaction" with the inter-Korean military pact reached at the summit last month.

Cho declined to comment on Trump's remarks, but said Washington was not opposed to inter-Korean dialogue and exchanges, and that the allies are consulting closely.

China, Russia and North Korea believe it is necessary to consider adapting US sanctions against Pyongyang at a convenient time, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.

(The story is redone to reflect Kang's timing of correcting his remarks.)