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U.S. Ambassador to Korea Alexander Vershbow said Tuesday that Seoul may need to take a second look at all programs that benefit the North Korean regime after the North said it tested a nuclear device. But the envoy said he would not presume to tell the South Korean government what to do about tourism to Mt. Kumgang and business in the inter-Korean Kaesong Industrial Complex.
The remarks came at a press conference on Tuesday, where Vershbow also expressed hope that Seoul will become more active in the U.S.-led Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), a loose grouping of countries aimed at intercepting ships suspected of carrying materials related to weapons of mass destruction. When U.S. Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Robert Joseph comes here soon, he is sure to talk about South Korea¡¯s participation in the PSI, the envoy said.
Asked about the chances of bilateral dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang, Vershbow said North Korea¡¯s nuclear test on Monday took place when the two sides were seeking to resolve the situation; by going ahead with the test, North Korea indicated in its own say that it is not interested in the U.S. proposal.
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U.S. Ambassador to Korea Alexander Vershbow
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Vice Foreign Minister Yu Myong-hwan told the Unification, Foreign Affairs and Trade Committee at the National Assembly that Seoul ¡°plans to take part in some areas of the PSI or do so for specific matters.¡± Earlier, the government chose not to participate in the initiative, but the nuclear test appears to have changed that. President Roh Moo-hyun told reporters on Monday, ¡°Our policy of sticking to dialogue alone has lost considerable ground.¡± But Unification Minister Lee Jong-seok told the committee the government has ¡°not reviewed the option¡± of joining the PSI since there has been no official request from the U.S.
Meanwhile, the UN Security Council started drawing up a resolution to respond to North Korea¡¯s nuclear test based on drafts submitted by the U.S. and Japan on Monday. The U.S. version would call on Pyongyang to return to six-party talks on its nuclear problems, provide for forcible inspections of vessels and airplanes, and a freeze of North Korean assets and other financial sanctions. It invokes Chapter 7 of the UN Charter that permits both economic and military sanctions. The U.S. made it clear it will gradually strengthen sanctions against the North, saying it will see how the communist country responds to the resolution 30 days after it is adopted. China's UN ambassador Wang Guangya also said Tuesday there should be ¡°punitive¡± measures over the North¡¯s nuclear test.
The final Security Council resolution is expected in two or three days later after a compromise with China and Russia, who have demanded diplomatic solutions instead of sanctions.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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