ID :
53503
Thu, 04/02/2009 - 16:46
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/53503
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S. Korea likely to join PSI after N. Korea`s rocket launch: officials
By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, April 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is leaning toward joining the U.S.-led
campaign to curb the flow of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in response to
North Korea's impending rocket launch, despite the communist regime's threat of
armed conflict, according to government officials here on Thursday.
The North's launch, expected within days, will apparently provide the
conservative South Korean government with a much-awaited justification for fully
participating in the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), launched in 2003 by
the Bush administration. The PSI is aimed at interdicting ships suspected of
carrying WMDs and related materials.
The former U.S. administration, which viewed the PSI as a silver bullet to
preventing the spread of WMDs, requested South Korea's participation. But the
previous liberal government of President Roh Moo-hyun balked at the request,
concerned that joining the initiative would antagonize the North amid efforts to
boost engagement.
Even after the North conducted a nuclear test in 2006, the South decided to
maintain its status as an observer of the PSI.
The inauguration of the Lee Myung-bak government in Seoul last year significantly
changed the political atmosphere. In a policy report for Lee's transition team,
the foreign ministry said it would consider playing a more active role in the
PSI.
On various private occasions, ministry officials advocated the need for South
Korea to become a full-fledged member of the initiative, which already has 94
member states including Russia and Japan.
But many states whose coastlines border key shipping routes, including China,
India, Malaysia and Indonesia, are not members.
With the North's preparations for the rocket launch gaining pace, Foreign
Minister Yu Myung-hwan openly said last month the launch will prompt a review of
whether South Korean should join the PSI.
Ministry spokesman Moon Tae-young on Thursday reaffirmed that position.
"We are going towards taking part in the PSI, which is among a few options (to
counter the launch)," he said. "But a final decision will be made through
consultations with other ministries if North Korea actually fires a rocket."
South Korea has limited options in responding to North Korea's planned launch,
with relations on the peninsula already icy.
Cross-border exchanges have been minimized and the only major remaining joint
economic project, the Seoul-funded Kaesong industrial complex, is not a card the
South Korean administration is considering playing. A closure of the complex
would cause huge losses for the South Korean government and deal a fatal blow to
already-troubled businesses there.
Since the PSI is not a pact or treaty, no special application procedure is
required. A country can announce its decision through media or deliver its
intention to the U.S. through diplomatic channels.
Some observers, however, caution Seoul against moving too hastily to join the
PSI, warning it could strengthen the position of hardliners in Pyongyang.
"In particular, the North's launch of a satellite, although it uses the same
technology as missile, is not directly related to the PSI aimed at preventing the
shipment of WMDs to other nations," said Kim Keun-shik, a North Korean affairs
professor at South Korea's Kyungnam University.
"I doubt South Korea needs to come to the fore and say that it is actively
considering participating in the PSI, at a time when South Korea still wants to
improve inter-Korean ties."
A diplomatic observer in Seoul also suggested that South Korea keep the PSI card
in hand in case of a more serious situation, such as a rupture in the six-way
nuclear talks or a second atomic test by North Korea.
On Monday, Pyongyang warned that Seoul's entry into the PSI would result in a war.
"We solemnly declare that should the Lee Myung-bak group participate in the 'PSI,'
oblivious of this reality, the DPRK (North Korea) will consider this as a
declaration of a war and promptly take a resolute countermeasure against it," said
a spokesman for the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland, an
organ handling inter-Korean affairs.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)
SEOUL, April 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is leaning toward joining the U.S.-led
campaign to curb the flow of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in response to
North Korea's impending rocket launch, despite the communist regime's threat of
armed conflict, according to government officials here on Thursday.
The North's launch, expected within days, will apparently provide the
conservative South Korean government with a much-awaited justification for fully
participating in the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), launched in 2003 by
the Bush administration. The PSI is aimed at interdicting ships suspected of
carrying WMDs and related materials.
The former U.S. administration, which viewed the PSI as a silver bullet to
preventing the spread of WMDs, requested South Korea's participation. But the
previous liberal government of President Roh Moo-hyun balked at the request,
concerned that joining the initiative would antagonize the North amid efforts to
boost engagement.
Even after the North conducted a nuclear test in 2006, the South decided to
maintain its status as an observer of the PSI.
The inauguration of the Lee Myung-bak government in Seoul last year significantly
changed the political atmosphere. In a policy report for Lee's transition team,
the foreign ministry said it would consider playing a more active role in the
PSI.
On various private occasions, ministry officials advocated the need for South
Korea to become a full-fledged member of the initiative, which already has 94
member states including Russia and Japan.
But many states whose coastlines border key shipping routes, including China,
India, Malaysia and Indonesia, are not members.
With the North's preparations for the rocket launch gaining pace, Foreign
Minister Yu Myung-hwan openly said last month the launch will prompt a review of
whether South Korean should join the PSI.
Ministry spokesman Moon Tae-young on Thursday reaffirmed that position.
"We are going towards taking part in the PSI, which is among a few options (to
counter the launch)," he said. "But a final decision will be made through
consultations with other ministries if North Korea actually fires a rocket."
South Korea has limited options in responding to North Korea's planned launch,
with relations on the peninsula already icy.
Cross-border exchanges have been minimized and the only major remaining joint
economic project, the Seoul-funded Kaesong industrial complex, is not a card the
South Korean administration is considering playing. A closure of the complex
would cause huge losses for the South Korean government and deal a fatal blow to
already-troubled businesses there.
Since the PSI is not a pact or treaty, no special application procedure is
required. A country can announce its decision through media or deliver its
intention to the U.S. through diplomatic channels.
Some observers, however, caution Seoul against moving too hastily to join the
PSI, warning it could strengthen the position of hardliners in Pyongyang.
"In particular, the North's launch of a satellite, although it uses the same
technology as missile, is not directly related to the PSI aimed at preventing the
shipment of WMDs to other nations," said Kim Keun-shik, a North Korean affairs
professor at South Korea's Kyungnam University.
"I doubt South Korea needs to come to the fore and say that it is actively
considering participating in the PSI, at a time when South Korea still wants to
improve inter-Korean ties."
A diplomatic observer in Seoul also suggested that South Korea keep the PSI card
in hand in case of a more serious situation, such as a rupture in the six-way
nuclear talks or a second atomic test by North Korea.
On Monday, Pyongyang warned that Seoul's entry into the PSI would result in a war.
"We solemnly declare that should the Lee Myung-bak group participate in the 'PSI,'
oblivious of this reality, the DPRK (North Korea) will consider this as a
declaration of a war and promptly take a resolute countermeasure against it," said
a spokesman for the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland, an
organ handling inter-Korean affairs.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)
