ID :
55323
Tue, 04/14/2009 - 11:55
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/55323
The shortlink copeid
Seoul to decide PSI membership at security policy meeting
By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, April 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's presidential office Cheong Wa Dae will convene a meeting of the foreign and security policy coordination committee Tuesday to address pending security issues that will likely include the country's joining the U.S.-led anti-proliferation regime, informed sources said.
The country's foreign minister, Yu Myung-hwan, said Monday that he will recommend
South Korea's full membership in the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) to
President Lee Myung-bak after consultations with relevant countries.
The meeting comes only hours after the U.N. Security Council unanimously adopted
a presidential statement condemning the launch of a long-range rocket by North
Korea on April 5 in what Pyongyang claims was a space development program.
A source said the country may make an announcement as early as Wednesday of its
"full participation in the PSI."
A Cheong Wa Dae official, however, claims the move has little to do with the
North's firing of the long-range rocket that Seoul believes was a ballistic
missile test, saying the country has been considering joining the
non-proliferation regime "for some time."
"Anyone who understands what PSI is will understand it has little to do with the
launch," the official said, asking not to be identified.
The preceding Roh Moo-hyun administration had refused to join the PSI as it said
the move could cause unnecessary tension with the communist North while Pyongyang
has said it will assume Seoul's participation in the PSI as a declaration of war.
The Cheong Wa Dae official said the PSI will not lead to any additional
non-proliferation activities by Seoul other than the ones it is already entitled
to under inter-Korean accords,
The official was apparently referring to an agreement between the divided Koreas
that allows
Seoul to stop and search North Korean ships sailing in its waters that are suspected
of carrying weapons.
"What is more important than joining the PSI is whether we actually implement
these measures or not," he said.
By joining the PSI, the official added, "We are saying we will strictly abide by
these principles."
SEOUL, April 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's presidential office Cheong Wa Dae will convene a meeting of the foreign and security policy coordination committee Tuesday to address pending security issues that will likely include the country's joining the U.S.-led anti-proliferation regime, informed sources said.
The country's foreign minister, Yu Myung-hwan, said Monday that he will recommend
South Korea's full membership in the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) to
President Lee Myung-bak after consultations with relevant countries.
The meeting comes only hours after the U.N. Security Council unanimously adopted
a presidential statement condemning the launch of a long-range rocket by North
Korea on April 5 in what Pyongyang claims was a space development program.
A source said the country may make an announcement as early as Wednesday of its
"full participation in the PSI."
A Cheong Wa Dae official, however, claims the move has little to do with the
North's firing of the long-range rocket that Seoul believes was a ballistic
missile test, saying the country has been considering joining the
non-proliferation regime "for some time."
"Anyone who understands what PSI is will understand it has little to do with the
launch," the official said, asking not to be identified.
The preceding Roh Moo-hyun administration had refused to join the PSI as it said
the move could cause unnecessary tension with the communist North while Pyongyang
has said it will assume Seoul's participation in the PSI as a declaration of war.
The Cheong Wa Dae official said the PSI will not lead to any additional
non-proliferation activities by Seoul other than the ones it is already entitled
to under inter-Korean accords,
The official was apparently referring to an agreement between the divided Koreas
that allows
Seoul to stop and search North Korean ships sailing in its waters that are suspected
of carrying weapons.
"What is more important than joining the PSI is whether we actually implement
these measures or not," he said.
By joining the PSI, the official added, "We are saying we will strictly abide by
these principles."
