Ministry of Unification: "North Korea Responsible for Rising Military Tensions... Door to Dialogue Remains Open"

North Korean Embassy Mentions 'Itaewon Tragedy'
"Violation of Humanitarian Principles, Strong Regret"

Ministry of Unification [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] The Ministry of Unification condemned North Korea for criticizing the policy to strengthen deterrence against North Korea that emerged from the trilateral summit between South Korea, the United States, and Japan, and urged it to come to the dialogue table.

On the morning of the 17th, a Ministry of Unification official told reporters regarding North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui's statement criticizing the extended deterrence by South Korea, the U.S., and Japan, "The party escalating military tensions is not South Korea and the U.S., but North Korea, and all responsibility lies entirely with North Korea."

The official pointed out, "North Korea launched ballistic missiles again just eight days after the launch on the 9th," adding, "The current heightened tension on the Korean Peninsula is not due to the extended deterrence by South Korea and the U.S., but because North Korea has continued nuclear development and provocations."

He continued, "Both South Korea and the U.S. are not only talking about 'deterrence,'" emphasizing, "Efforts to deter North Korea's threats and provocations must be accompanied by efforts to resolve issues through inter-Korean dialogue."

He further stated, "The government has proposed talks to North Korea several times. The inter-Korean talks already proposed are currently valid, and all inter-Korean dialogues on issues concerning the Korean Peninsula remain open," adding that if North Korea responds to the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's denuclearization roadmap, the 'Bold Initiative,' the government is prepared to provide specific explanations.

He also said, "Going forward, the government will respond clearly and firmly to provocations that threaten the lives and safety of our people, but based on principles and consistency, we will continue efforts to bring North Korea to the dialogue table," and added, "North Korea must also shift its direction from threats and provocations to dialogue and negotiation."

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Unification expressed strong regret over North Korea's Ambassador to the UN, Kim Song, mentioning the 'Itaewon tragedy' while opposing the North Korean Human Rights Resolution. A Ministry of Unification official said, "It is deplorable that North Korea carried out military provocations during our national mourning period instead of mourning, but using this as a political criticism tool on the international stage discussing human rights and humanitarian issues is a direct violation of humanitarian principles," expressing "strong regret."

On the 16th (local time), at the 3rd Committee meeting of the UN General Assembly held at the UN Headquarters in New York, Ambassador Kim Song attacked South Korea, a co-sponsor of the North Korean Human Rights Resolution, saying it "triggered an unprecedented crush accident caused by human error due to a lack of internal governance capability."