Asia-Pacific
End of sanctions possible only after denuclearization: ROK
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-01-19 10:15
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 ROK army soldiers climb during their winter season military drill in Yanggu, about 175 km (108 miles) northeast of Seoul, January 14, 2010. [Agencies] |
SEOUL: In light of a related UN resolution, the UN Security Council will only consider removing sanctions imposed on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) when there is progress in its process of denuclearization, Seoul said Monday.
The remark, made by Kim Yong-sun, spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea (ROK), came as a response to an earlier statement by the DPRK which renewed its demands of negotiating a peace treaty and lifting sanctions before it's return to the six-party nuclear disarmament talks. The DPRK's statement also demanded lifting of the sanctions imposed on the DPRK after it conducted a satellite launch and a nuclear test last spring.
Only after the six-party talks are resumed and there is progress in the process of the DPRK's denuclearization, the related countries can negotiate a peace treaty at a separate forum as stated in the Joint Statement of September 19, 2005, Kim added.
With regard to the sanctions, the spokesman said that they were imposed by a UN Security Council resolution that explicitly stated they only can be removed when there is progress in Pyongyang's denuclearization process.
The UN Security Council on June 12, 2009 adopted Resolution 1874 that allowed wider sanctions against the DPRK on the issue of its May 25 nuclear test.
The resolution banned all weapons exports from the DPRK and most arms imports into the country, authorized UN member states to inspect the DPRK's sea, air and land cargo and required them to seize and destroy any goods transported in violation of the sanctions.
The DPRK has rejected the resolution and announced it has quitted the six-party talks aimed at denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula.
