Moon may seek exemption of UN sanctions on North Korea

South Korean President Moon Jae-in said yesterday that he could seek exemptions of UN sanctions placed on North Korea to bring about improved inter-Korean relations that he believes would help restart nuclear negotiations between Pyongyang and Washington.

Moon has previously made similar comments, despite outside worries that any lifting of sanctions could undermine US-led efforts to eliminate North Korea’s nuclear arsenal. His latest overture came about two weeks after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un threatened to bolster his nuclear deterrent in the face of what he called “gangster-like” US pressure and sanctions.

Moon said at a New Year’s news conference Tuesday that greater inter-Korean cooperation would spur progress in stalemated nuclear diplomacy between North Korea and the US and help gather international support for sanctions exemptions. “If exceptions from UN sanctions are necessary for South-North cooperation, I think we can make efforts for that,” Moon said. “I think there is a heightened need for South and North Korea to dial up their cooperation a little bit and promote North Korean-US talks, rather than just looking at North Korea-US talks.”

Moon didn’t say on what specific sanction exemptions he may need. He said last year that he would push for the exemption of UN sanctions to resume two major inter-Korean economic projects — a jointly run factory park and South Korean group tours to a scenic North Korean mountain. The projects served as a rare legitimate source of foreign currency for the North.

Moon acknowledged that efforts to boost inter-Korean ties would have limits because of the UN sanctions. But he said exchanges in sports and individual tours to North Korea are among the areas where the two Koreas can cooperate without violating the sanctions.

 

Moon may seek exemption of UN sanctions on North Korea

South Korean President Moon Jae-in said yesterday that he could seek exemptions of UN sanctions placed on North Korea to bring about improved inter-Korean relations that he believes would help restart nuclear negotiations between Pyongyang and Washington. Moon has previously made similar comments, despite outside worries that any lifting of sanctions could undermine US-led efforts to eliminate North Koreas nuclear arsenal. His latest overture came about two weeks after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un threatened to bolster his nuclear deterrent in the face of what he called gangster-like US pressure and sanctions. Moon said at a New Years news conference Tuesday that greater inter-Korean cooperation would spur progress in stalemated nuclear diplomacy between North Korea and the US and help gather international support for sanctions exemptions. If exceptions from UN sanctions are necessary for South-North cooperation, I think we can make efforts for that, Moon said. I think there is a heightened need for South and North Korea to dial up their cooperation a little bit and promote North Korean-US talks, rather than just looking at North Korea-US talks. Moon didnt say on what specific sanction exemptions he may need. He said last year that he would push for the exemption of UN sanctions to resume two major inter-Korean economic projects a jointly run factory park and South Korean group tours to a scenic North Korean mountain. The projects served as a rare legitimate source of foreign currency for the North. Moon acknowledged that efforts to boost inter-Korean ties would have limits because of the UN sanctions. But he said exchanges in sports and individual tours to North Korea are among the areas where the two Koreas can cooperate without violating the sanctions.