S. Korea set to announce participation in PSI

SEOUL, April 12 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will officially announce its
participation in a U.S.-led anti-proliferation regime as a full member this week, government officials said Sunday.

The announcement is expected shortly after the U.N. Security Council formally
responds to North Korea's latest rocket launch, sometime this week, they said.
"The government is expected to announce its joining in the anti-proliferation
regime as a full member within this week," one
official said, requesting anonymity. "South Korea has already decided to join in the
regime."
The anti-proliferation regime, officially called the proliferation security
initiative (PSI), was launched in 2003 to curb the spread of missiles and other
weapons of mass destruction.
More than 70 countries have joined the regime, pledging to interdict airplanes
and ships suspected of carrying weapons of mass destruction. No countries are
targeted in the regime but it's generally understood that they include North
Korea, Syria and Iran.
South Korea has so far limited its role to act only as an observer in a bid not
to antagonize North Korea. Pyongyang has warned that it would retaliate if South
Korea joins the regime.
Inter-Korean relations have deteriorated since conservative President Lee
Myung-bak took office in Seoul in early 2008. The militaries of both countries
currently remain on heightened alert.
Tension rose further last week when North Korea, defying a chorus of
international warnings, blasted off a rocket, which the U.S. and its allies
believe was a test of missile delivery technology.
ksnam@yna.co.kr
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