The Assembly, taking formal steps to adopt policies dictated by the ruling Workers’ Party, voted to repeal laws that regulate economic ties with Seoul, particularly a special law governing the operation of the Mount Kumgang tourism project.
The excursions to the scenic mountain north of the eastern border have been a symbol of economic cooperation that began during a period of interaction between the countries in the early 2000s, and have attracted nearly 2 million South Korean tourists.
The project was suspended in 2008 after North Korean guards shot and killed a South Korean tourist who got lost in the restricted area.
Pyongyang said it was now hostile to the South, which is at war. Last year, North Korea ended a military pact signed in 2018 aimed at de-escalating tensions near the military border established as part of the truce that ended the 1950-1953 Korean War.
In a pre-recorded interview with state broadcaster KBS aired late Wednesday, February 7, South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol called North Korea’s change in inter-Korean policy an “extraordinary change.” He also added that it is difficult for him to understand the reason for this decision.
“What remains constant is that the North has been trying to turn us into communists for over 70 years, and in doing so they realized that their conventional weapons were not enough, so they turned to nuclear development to threaten us,” he said.
Sok-yeol, who has taken a hard line against Pyongyang, said he remains open to engaging with the North, even through a summit with Kim Je-un, and providing aid if it helps its economy. At the same time, he said that the North Korean leadership “is not a rational group.”
Since coming to power in 2011, Kim has pushed North Korea to develop nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles of varying ranges, escalating tensions with South Korea and the United States even as the North’s economy has declined.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Kim visited consumer goods and food factories on Wednesday and gave instructions on upgrading factories as part of a new regional development policy.
North Korean provocations
In recent weeks, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has made a number of statements that indicate his desire and readiness to go to war with South Korea.
In particular, he called for strengthening the country’s naval forces to “strengthen preparations for war” and protect maritime sovereignty. And within a week, North Korea conducted three rounds of cruise missile launches, including test tests of a new strategic cruise missile launched from a submarine.
At the same time, the media are also writing that Pyongyang has a good reason not to ignite the conflict, since North Korea’s economic growth rate has reached its highest level in almost a decade due to arms sales to Russia.
Meanwhile, South Korea expressed dissatisfaction with Russia due to its cooperation with the DPRK.
Read urgent and important messages about Russia’s war against Ukraine on the channel RBC-Ukraine on Telegram.
2024-02-08 01:05:00
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