On N. Korean nuke issue, Pres. Park says there’s “no other way” but more pressure

Posted on : 2016-04-27 17:18 KST Modified on : 2019-10-19 20:29 KST
Park reiterates her standard positions on North Korea and comfort women agreement with Japan
President Park Geun-hye speaks to newspaper editors-in-chief and broadcast newsroom directors during a meeting at the Blue House in Seoul
President Park Geun-hye speaks to newspaper editors-in-chief and broadcast newsroom directors during a meeting at the Blue House in Seoul

On Apr. 26 President Park Geun-hye advocated a stern response to the possibility of a fifth nuclear test by North Korea.

“I can think of no other way to prevent North Korea’s provocations by filling in all the holes and implementing stiffer sanctions,” she said. The “holes” in this case referred to various exceptions granted in the recently adopted United Nations Security Council Resolution 2270 (UNSCR 2270), which allows embargo exemptions on coal for “livelihood purposes.”

Park’s comments came during a two-hour, 10-minute luncheon and talk at the Blue House with newspaper editors-in-chief and newsroom directors from various news outlets.

“Our determination is that a fifth nuclear test could be conducted at any time if [North Korean leader Kim Jong-un] makes up his mind to do so,” Park said.

“If that happens, the situation will be very different,” she added. 

 Apr. 26. (Blue House photo pool)
Apr. 26. (Blue House photo pool)
Responding to nuclear program with heavier sanctions and pressure

In her comments, Park repeated said she could “not think of any other way” of responding to a fifth nuclear test than heavier sanctions and pressure on North Korea. The comments suggest she is not currently envisioning alternative approaches involving dialogue or negotiation to discourage Pyongyang from additional nuclear tests.

Regarding cooperation with Beijing on a response to North Korea’s nuclear program, Park noted that Chinese President Xi Jinping “pledged to implement [UNSCR 2270] fully and thoroughly” during a bilateral summit during the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington on Mar. 31.

“There have actually been effects from the sanctions, so our hopes are high,” she added.

Her interpretation of “full implementation” of UNSCR 2270 is somewhat different from the official line from Beijing, which understands it to mean a parallel approach of sanctions and dialogue. 

Keeping Kaesong closed barring “real change” from Pyongyang

Park also said the shutdown of the Kaesong Industrial Complex following North Korea’s fourth nuclear test on Jan. 6 and rocket launch on Feb. 7 would continue throughout her term, barring “genuine change” from Pyongyang.

“Until there is genuine change from North Korea, any dialogue will be day after day of spinning our wheels,” she said.

“This time, some kind of [genuine] change is absolute a prerequisite [to ending the Kaesong closure],” she added. 

Hastening follow-up measures to comfort women agreement

On the issue of the Dec. 28 agreement with the Japanese government on survivors of drafting as sexual slaves to the Japanese military - known as “comfort women” - Park said she would “work so that follow-up measures are implemented quickly,” including the establishment of a foundation to support victims as part of the agreement.

“We also had a South Korea-Japan summit during the Nuclear Security Summit, and in the talk with [Japanese] Prime Minister [Shinzo] Abe, we discussed the diligent implementation of follow-up measures such as the foundation’s establishment in a way that would not go against the spirit and goals of the agreement,” she added.

In short, Park’s comments affirmed her existing policy approach: ruling out dialogue and negotiation on the North Korean nuclear issue in favor of stronger pressure and sanctions in coordination with the international community, and hastening implementation of the Dec. 28 despite widespread objections and calls for renegotiation from civil society and the comfort women survivors.

By Lee Je-hun, staff reporter

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]

 

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