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South Korea on Sunday failed to make good a threat to join a U.S.-led initiative aimed at preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction the moment North Korea goes ahead with its rocket launch.
An official statement on Sunday's launch by Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan made no mention of the Proliferation Security Initiative, a grouping of countries who agree to intercept ships suspected of carrying WMD or related materials.
A government official said the statement did not mention the PSI, because Seoul was worried about "unnecessarily heightening tensions" given that North Korea "is extremely sensitive about the PSI."
Some officials had apparently argued against mentioning the PSI, saying the step should not be presented as a punitive action against North Korea, which could only reinforce Pyongyang's notion that it is the sole target of the initiative. Instead, Seoul should present PSI membership as a move to join international efforts against proliferation.
Another government official said Seoul has already decided to join, but when to join is "a matter of flexibility." A senior Cheong Wa Dae official said, "The government has already made clear that the policy is to join the PSI. The process is underway and we're moving in that direction. What matters now is when to join. We're going to join the PSI not because North Korea has launched a rocket but based on our own schedule, though the plan is already sitting on the conveyor belt."
A third government official said, "We'll just wait and see for a few more days what further actions the North takes and what the UN Security Council will discuss." But he claimed that would not ¡°change our basic position."
Currently, the PSI has 94 member states. South Korea has been taking part as an observer only.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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