S Korea stands firm on sanctions

Seoul – South Korean President Moon Jae-in said yesterday sanctions on North Korea will not be eased for the sake of a summit between the two sides as Chinese state media repeated Beijing’s line that talks are the only way to end the nuclear standoff.

South Korean officials met North Korean leader Kim JongUn on Monday in the first such encounter of its kind and said he had expressed his willingness to denuclearise if his country’s security is assured. And US President Donald Trump said North Korea seems “sincere” in its apparent willingness to suspend nuclear tests if it holds denuclearisation talks with the US.

North Korea has boasted of its plans to develop a nuclear-tipped missile capable of reaching the US mainland. But fears of all-out war eased last month, coinciding with North Korea’s participation in the Winter Olympics in the South.

“I believe President Trump is positive about the results of the North Korea visit (by South Korean officials),” Moon said. “However, as this is just the beginning, I believe we are not in a situation yet where we can be optimistic.”

Moon added he had no plans for easing sanctions. The goal was the denuclearisation of the North, nothing less, he said. The first meeting between the North and South’s leaders since 2007 will be held next month, Chung Eui-yong, head of the South’s delegation, said.

South Korean officials who met the North’s leader will leave for the US today. Chung said he had a message from Kim Jong-Un to relay to US officials. – Reuters