MOSCOW, October 6 (RIA Novosti) – Despite the sudden talks on improving relations between North and South Korea, Seoul will not shift its position on economic sanctions against North Korea, Yonhap News reports.
“Our government’s basic position is that the May 24th Measure can be lifted only after North Korea takes a responsible step that the South Korean people accept”, South Korea’s Unification Ministry’s spokesman Lim Byeong-cheol said at a press conference, as quoted by Yonhap News.
Lim Byeong-cheol was referring to Seoul’s economic sanctions, imposed on its impoverished neighbor after North Korea destroyed a South Korean warship, killing 46 sailors in 2010, according to Yonhap News.
The two neighbors agreed to resume reconciliation talks on Saturday, after North Korea sent a large delegation to the South, accompanied by Hwang Pyong-so, the North’s second most powerful man, Reuters informed.
This raised hopes for an improvement of relationship between the two Koreas. South Korean President Park Geun-hye stressed the importance of the dialogue between the two countries.
“We should make efforts to ensure that the high-level contact will lead to regular dialogue, not just a one-time dialogue”, Park said, as quoted by the Korea Times.
However, Park also stressed North Korea needs to demonstrate its willingness to improve the Korean relations with “sincere actions”, Business Standard said.
