S. Korea might lift some sanctions on N. Korea

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA » South Korea is considering lifting some of its unilateral sanctions against North Korea to create more momentum for diplomacy aimed at improving relations and defusing the nuclear crisis, the South’s foreign minister said Wednesday.

During a parliamentary audit of her ministry, Kang Kyung-wha said the government is reviewing whether to lift sanctions South Korea imposed on the North in 2010 following a deadly attack on a warship that killed 45 South Korean sailors. Following an angry reaction from conservative opposition lawmakers, Kang’s ministry later tried to downplay her comments, saying in a statement that the government has yet to start a “fullfledged” review on sanctions, meaning no decision was imminent.

When asked about Kang’s comments, U.S. President Donald Trump said South Korea could only lift its sanctions on North Korea with his say-so.

His blunt retort implied friction between the allies over the pace of inter-Korean engagement amid concerns in Washington that Pyongyang is lagging behind its supposed promise to denuclearize.

“They won’t do that without our approval,” Trump said. “They do nothing without our approval.”

South Korean President Moon Jae-in has mostly stayed firm on sanctions despite actively engaging with North Korea and floating the possibility of huge investments and joint economic projects in return for the North’s relinquishment of its nuclear weapons.