Lawmakers disagree over sanction relief, increased cooperation with North

Oct 18, 2018, 09:26 am

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A parliamentary audit of South Korea’s mission to the U.N. representation was held in New York on Tuesday./ Source: Yonhap

By AsiaToday reporters Joo Sung-sik & Lee Seok-jong

The inter-Korean relations are warming fast with their continued push for peace that brought a host of agreements lately, including a plan by the two Koreas to hold a groundbreaking ceremony this year to connect their railways and roads, fueling concerns of possible cracks in the Seoul-Washington relationship.

In a summit with French President Emmanuel Macron on Oct. 15, President Moon told the French leader, “We must encourage North Korea’s denuclearization by easing U.N. sanctions at least when and if we believe the denuclearization of the North Korean nuclear program reaches a point of no return.” Following Moon’s proposal for possibly easing sanctions on North Korea, there has been a heated debate among South Korean lawmakers on the North Korean sanction relief and fast-improving inter-Korean ties.

However, the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae dismissed such concerns and disputes, saying the progress of inter-Korean relations is going on within the framework of the international community’s North Korean sanctions and that Seoul is in close consultations with the United States.

Ruling and opposition lawmakers collided on the issue of easing North Korean sanctions and increasing cooperation with the North at a parliamentary audit of South Korea’s mission to the U.N. representation in New York on Tuesday.

Ruling Democratic Party Rep. Song Young-gil said the North cannot give up its nuclear weapon development if the U.S. does not declare an end to the Korean War. “We must give a small gift to induce the North’s denuclearization,” he said.

Song said the U.N. should take action citing a clause from U.N. Security Council Resolution 2371, where the Security Council affirms it is prepared to strengthen, modify, suspend or lift the measures as may be needed in light of the DPRK’s compliance.

Won Hye-young of the ruling party said, “It’s very tough and time-consuming to demand denuclearization first before easing sanctions. As Moon explained in his talks with French President Macron, it’s important to create a virtuous circle by easing sanctions first in order to promote denuclearization.”

On the other hand, main opposition Liberty Korea Party Rep. Kim Moo-sung expressed concerns over fast-improving inter-Korean relations. “We must keep up with our ally the United States and the United Nations in terms of methods and procedures,” Kim said. “The Moon Jae-in administration is going too fast compared to the United States’ and the United Nations’.”

South Korea’s Ambassador to the United Nations Cho Tae-yul said, “The government is working closely with its allies and the U.N. Security Council’s sanctions committee on North Korea to make sure that inter-Korean cooperation projects will be carried out smoothly, within the framework of international sanctions.”

In regard to inter-Korean road and rail connection project, Cho said the government is working closely with the United States to prevent violations of sanctions.

“South Korea and the United States are maintaining a very close relationship. The road and railway connection project for the development of inter-Korean relations are proceeding smoothly as planned, and we are in close consultation with the United States,” Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom told a press briefing on Wednesday.

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