Unification minister: ‘N.K.’s offer for military talks meant to avoid criticism’

Unification minister: ‘N.K.’s offer for military talks meant to avoid criticism’. May. 23, 2016 07:37. by 윤완준기자 zeitung@donga.com.

Unification Minister Hong Yong-pyo has rejected North Korea’s offer to hold inter-Korean military authorities’ talk, saying, “It is an act to avoid criticism in order to ensure Pyongyang continues nuclear weapons development and the Kim Jong Un regime stays in power. It is absolutely clear that holding (inter-Korean) military talks to achieve true peace without discussing about denuclearization is out of the question.”

In a joint interview with The Dong-A Ilbo and Japan’s Asahi Shimbun at the inter-Korean talks headquarters in Seoul’s Jongno district on Friday, the unification minister said, “When asked whether North has any will to hold dialogue at all, (my) answer is ‘no.’”

As the North stepped up offensives without reservation after completing the 7th Workers’ Party Congress early this month, Hong stressed that now is an important time to bring changes to North Korea itself, rather than holding dialogue. On sanctions against Pyongyang by the international community including Switzerland and Russia, the minister said, “It is very significant, because countries the North had exchange and even its allies are opposed to Pyongyang’s nuclear development and have joined a campaign to sanction the North. Now is a wonderful time to bring about the North’s denuclearization.”

“As soon as the North Korean Human Rights Act takes effect on September 3 (in South Korea), South Korea will immediately start inspection on human rights situation in the North at the government level,” Hong said. “Raising human rights issue is (another) means to bring change to North Korea.”