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South Korea’s Park vows all-out effort to punish North for provocations South Korea’s Park vows all-out effort to punish North for provocations
(35 minutes later)
SEOUL – North Korea’s pursuit of a nuclear weapons program “will only hasten its collapse,” South Korean President Park Geun-hye declared Tuesday, warning that her government would do all it could to punish Pyongyang for its recent provocations. SEOUL – North Korea’s pursuit of a nuclear weapons program “will only hasten its collapse,” South Korean President Park Geun-hye said Tuesday, warning that her government would do all it could to punish Pyongyang for its recent provocations.
In the wake of North Korea’s recent nuclear and missile tests, Park is taking a markedly more confrontational approach towards Kim Jong Un’s regime in the North. In the wake of North Korea’s recent nuclear and missile tests, Park is taking a markedly more confrontational approach towards Kim Jong Un’s regime.
“We can no longer be dragged by North Korea’s deception and threats. We cannot go back to the past policy of backing down to North Korea’s provocations and providing aid,” Park said in a special address to the National Assembly Wednesday. “Now is the time to find an answer to bring a fundamental change in North Korea and it is time to find courage to implement it,” she said calmly and firmly. “We can no longer be dragged by North Korea’s deception and threats. We cannot go back to the past policy of backing down to North Korea’s provocations and providing aid,” Park said in a special address to the National Assembly. “Now is the time to find an answer to bring a fundamental change in North Korea — and it is time to find courage to implement it,” she said calmly and firmly.
Shutting down the inter-Korean industrial zone at Kaesong, on the northern side of the demilitarized zone that separates the two countries, last week was just the start of it, Park said. Last week’s shutdown of the inter-Korean industrial zone at Kaesong, on the northern side of the demilitarized zone that separates the two countries, was just the start, Park said.
“Shutting down the Kaesong complex is just a beginning of the sanctions that South Korea is going to take,” Park said. “From now on, the government will start taking stronger and more effective measures to push North Korea to make changes by creating an environment in which the North will realize that nuclear development is not a way to ensure their survival but a way to ensure the quick collapse of the regime.”“Shutting down the Kaesong complex is just a beginning of the sanctions that South Korea is going to take,” Park said. “From now on, the government will start taking stronger and more effective measures to push North Korea to make changes by creating an environment in which the North will realize that nuclear development is not a way to ensure their survival but a way to ensure the quick collapse of the regime.”
South Korea abruptly shut down the Kaesong zone, where about 54,000 North Koreans worked in 124 South Korean-owned factories. The South paid their wages, which amounted to about $160 a month each, directly to the regime.South Korea abruptly shut down the Kaesong zone, where about 54,000 North Koreans worked in 124 South Korean-owned factories. The South paid their wages, which amounted to about $160 a month each, directly to the regime.
Announcing the shutdown last week, the South’s Unification Ministry said about $120 million flowed into North Korea through the Kaesong industrial complex last year alone. In the 12 years since the complex was established, cash-strapped North Korea had made a total of about $560 million from the site. It accused North Korea of directly channeling this money into its weapons program. Announcing the shutdown last week, the South’s Unification Ministry said that about $120 million flowed into North Korea through the Kaesong industrial complex last year. In the 12 years since the complex was established, cash-strapped North Korea had made a total of about $560 million from the site. It accused North Korea of directly channeling this money into its weapons program.
The industrial complex had long been kept separate from politics and was not shut down even in the wake of a 2010 North Korean attack on a South Korean naval corvette that killed 46 Southern sailors. The industrial complex had long been kept separate from politics and was not shut down even in the wake of a 2010 North Korean attack on a South Korean naval corvette that killed 46 South Korean sailors.
But fed up with Kim Jong Un’s antics, Park has taken tough action. Notably, this is a rare occasion when South Korea, Japan and the United States are all moving in unison to punish North Korea. But fed up with Kim Jong Un’s antics, Park has taken tough action. Notably, this is a rare occasion when South Korea, Japan and the United States are moving in unison to punish North Korea.
Japan has introduced new unilateral economic sanctions on North Korea in response to the tests, banning North Korean citizens from coming into Japan and North Korean ships from calling at Japanese ports. Transfers of money, except for humanitarian gifts of less than $800, will also be prohibited.Japan has introduced new unilateral economic sanctions on North Korea in response to the tests, banning North Korean citizens from coming into Japan and North Korean ships from calling at Japanese ports. Transfers of money, except for humanitarian gifts of less than $800, will also be prohibited.
In Washington, the Senate and House of Representatives have both passed a bill enacting new sanctions against North Korea, and it is now awaiting President Obama’s signature. In Washington, the House and Senate have passed a bill enacting new sanctions against North Korea, and it is now awaiting President Obama’s signature.
But China, North Korea's closest ally, has been reluctant to take any punitive action that would risk destabilizing its neighbor, and this stance is likely to water down any measures that the United Nations comes up with. But China, North Korea's closest ally, has been reluctant to take any punitive action that would risk destabilizing its neighbor, and this stance probably will water down any measures that the United Nations comes up with.
Park estimated that the South Korean government and private enterprises had contributed about $3 billion to North Korea’s government over the last 20 years. Park estimated that the South Korean government and private enterprises had contributed about $3 billion to North Korea’s government over the past 20 years.
“However, North Korea has answered to South Korean government’s effort and support by nuclear test and missiles,” she said. “However, North Korea has answered to the South Korean government’s effort and support by nuclear tests and missiles,” she said.
“Now it is clear that the current approach and our good intentions will never lead North Korea to give up its nuclear ambitions, but rather it will help them to advance their nuclear ability and eventually cause catastrophe in the Korean Peninsula,” she said.“Now it is clear that the current approach and our good intentions will never lead North Korea to give up its nuclear ambitions, but rather it will help them to advance their nuclear ability and eventually cause catastrophe in the Korean Peninsula,” she said.
But it was not immediately clear what else South Korea could do to punish North Korea. It was not immediately clear what else South Korea could do to punish North Korea.
The Kumgangsan tourism zone, where South Koreans visited a North Korean mountain range in another project that generated foreign currency for the Kim regime, was shut down years ago after a South Korean woman was shot by a Northern guard. The Kumgangsan tourism zone, where South Koreans visited a North Korean mountain range in another project that generated foreign currency for the Kim regime, was shut down years ago after a South Korean woman was shot by a North Korean guard.
Direct sanctions put in place after the 2010 naval attack poured cold water on other economic cooperation and trade.Direct sanctions put in place after the 2010 naval attack poured cold water on other economic cooperation and trade.
Yoonjung Seo contributed to this report.Yoonjung Seo contributed to this report.