Sanctions Delay Wanted

At a time when U.S. economic sanctions against North Korea are pending, Seoul has reportedly called for Washington in an informal manner to postpone the announcement of the possible sanctions against Pyongyang until after the Korea-U.S. summit scheduled on September 14 in Washington.

“A senior government official of South Korea has conveyed unofficially to an U.S. official that Seoul does not oppose to the UN Security Council Resolution in and will itself aim to impose sanctions on Pyongyang. The Korean official added that it, however, is not considered to be a timely action to announce the economic sanctions shortly before or after the Korea-U.S. summit,” said a diplomatic source in Washington, on September 1.

As Kim Jong Il’s regime provoked the U.S. again with its missile test in July, the U.S. has prepared for appropriate countermeasures since its decision on the resumption of the economic sanctions against Pyongyang once lifted in 2002 after North Korea suspended missile launches (1999). Apparently U.S. restraint might get on the nerves of North Korea because it will be the first disciplinary measures since the UNSC resolution carried on July 15.

A Korean government official stated, “I will make no comment on that matter given that the Korea-U.S. summit is expected to involve North Korea into the dialogue and to prevent Pyongyang’s further provocation deteriorating the tripartite relationship.” According to Yonhap, at a series of meetings with U.S. officials from the State Department and the White House in Washington on August 30 and 31 (local time), Chun Young-woo, the Korean top negotiator for peace and deputy foreign minister, reportedly requested the U.S. to make diplomatic efforts corresponding to economic sanctions in a bid to resume the six party talks.