Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

“North Korea’s offer of talks without denuclearization is pure deception”

“With the continuous action from the international community united, this vicious circle of provocation-talks-compensation-provocation should be broken"
Emphasized efforts to improve North Korea's human rights record

President Park Geun-hye expressed her strong will to refuse North Korea’s suggestion of dialogue. In her speech at the opening session of the 20th National Assembly on June 13, she said “North Korea is now facing strong action from the international community, and is trying to tip the balance in its favor by suggesting talks. But without denuclearization, this suggestion is just a transparent attempt to change their situation.”

She clarified why she was refusing the offer of talks, saying that if we rashly enter talks with North Korea, we will lose the momentum of sanctions from the international community, which has built up slowly over a long period of time, making the path to denuclearization longer. She also said, “The government will make North Korea give up its nuclear and enter the path of sincere change while restraining its provocations, based on our strong capacity for self-defense.”

President Park expressed her confidence regarding sanctions. She said, “After adopting the most powerful UN security council resolution ever, major countries including the US, Japan and the EU announced individual sanctions back to back, and even China and Russia have been fulfilling the UN mandate. The international community is more unified on this issue than ever before. Now, the North Korean nuclear issue is being handled as the international community vs. North Korea, and the question of how this tortuous problem of North Korean denuclearization will be resolved will eventually be a battle of wills. As the government, we will put our hearts and souls into enhancing diplomacy so that we can firmly respond to the North Korean nuclear issue from a unified position. This time, we must finally break this vicious circle of provocation-talks-compensation-provocation.”

As well, President Park also pointed out that North Korea’s nuclear development hinders the improvement of relations between the South and the North, and insisted that questions related to the nuclear issue, human rights, and the recovery of homogeneity between South and North Korean residents should be covered comprehensively as its solution. Emphasizing the importance of North Korean human rights in particular, she has said that she will make sure continuous efforts are made to improve the human rights record, in partnership with the international community. For this reason, she attached a high level of significance to the establishment of the North Korean Human Rights Act by mutual agreement between opposing parties at the 19th National Assembly, and said, “I believe the 20th National Assembly will work hard to move along the path toward greater peace and prosperity after North Korea gives up its nuclear ambitions and emerges from closure and isolation.”

By Yeong-Sun, Lee < ys119@dema.mil.kr >
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