ID :
194016
Sun, 07/10/2011 - 11:25
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/194016
The shortlink copeid
S. Korea needs 'bolder approach' to N. Korea: U.N. chief
(Yonhap Interview)ADDIS ABABA, July 9 (Yonhap) -- U.N. Secretary-General Bank Ki-moon called for the South Korean government Saturday to take a "bolder approach" to North Korea in order to help ease cross-border tensions and move their relations forward.
"I think it is desirable for South Korea to take a bolder and wide approach in its policy toward North Korea, given its political, diplomatic and national power," Ban said in an interview with Yonhap News Agency at an airport in Addis Ababa.
Ban, the former South Korean foreign minister who was re-elected last month to a second term as leader of the U.N., assessed that "inter-Korean relations have been strained to the worst level."
Seoul-Pyongyang relations have been badly frayed since the conservative government of President Lee Myung-bak took office in early 2008 with a get-tough policy of linking assistance to progress in efforts to get North Korea to give up its nuclear programs.
The ties deteriorated further after two deadly North Korean military attacks on South Korea last year -- the sinking of the Cheonan warship and the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island -- that left a total of 50 people dead.
Still, the North maintains that it has nothing to apologize for in connection with the attacks.
Despite the high tensions, the U.N. chief said humanitarian aid should be given to North Korea.
"As for the issue of humanitarian aid, it is difficult to be resolved if it is closely linked with politics," Ban said.
"Of course, I was also outraged by (North Korea's) unilateral provocations like the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island. But it needs to move forward by enduring the pain for the future of South and North Korea," Ban said.
Ban's remarks came as South Korea was voicing reservations on food aid to North Korea, despite a decision by the European Union (EU) to provide its own emergency aid to the impoverished communist nation.
South Korean officials say they have no plan to resume any major government food aid to the North but have selectively allowed civic groups to send aid to the North on humanitarian grounds.
Seoul is also known to have reservations about Washington's move to resume food aid to Pyongyang, which has not shown any clear sign of keeping its earlier denuclearization commitment.
Ban said the possibility of his visit to Pyongyang as the U.N. chief "remains always open," but various issues should be adjusted if such a visit takes place.
The interview with Ban was held as he was en route to South Sudan to attend a ceremony marking the new African nation's formal independence from the North.
"I feel a great pride as the U.N. played a significant role for the independence of South Sudan," Ban said.
"While some issues remain unresolved, including a demarcation between South and North Sudan, the independence was a result of close consultations between the U.N. and relevant nations," he said.
South Sudan is set to become the 193rd country recognized by the U.N. next week.
(END)
"I think it is desirable for South Korea to take a bolder and wide approach in its policy toward North Korea, given its political, diplomatic and national power," Ban said in an interview with Yonhap News Agency at an airport in Addis Ababa.
Ban, the former South Korean foreign minister who was re-elected last month to a second term as leader of the U.N., assessed that "inter-Korean relations have been strained to the worst level."
Seoul-Pyongyang relations have been badly frayed since the conservative government of President Lee Myung-bak took office in early 2008 with a get-tough policy of linking assistance to progress in efforts to get North Korea to give up its nuclear programs.
The ties deteriorated further after two deadly North Korean military attacks on South Korea last year -- the sinking of the Cheonan warship and the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island -- that left a total of 50 people dead.
Still, the North maintains that it has nothing to apologize for in connection with the attacks.
Despite the high tensions, the U.N. chief said humanitarian aid should be given to North Korea.
"As for the issue of humanitarian aid, it is difficult to be resolved if it is closely linked with politics," Ban said.
"Of course, I was also outraged by (North Korea's) unilateral provocations like the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island. But it needs to move forward by enduring the pain for the future of South and North Korea," Ban said.
Ban's remarks came as South Korea was voicing reservations on food aid to North Korea, despite a decision by the European Union (EU) to provide its own emergency aid to the impoverished communist nation.
South Korean officials say they have no plan to resume any major government food aid to the North but have selectively allowed civic groups to send aid to the North on humanitarian grounds.
Seoul is also known to have reservations about Washington's move to resume food aid to Pyongyang, which has not shown any clear sign of keeping its earlier denuclearization commitment.
Ban said the possibility of his visit to Pyongyang as the U.N. chief "remains always open," but various issues should be adjusted if such a visit takes place.
The interview with Ban was held as he was en route to South Sudan to attend a ceremony marking the new African nation's formal independence from the North.
"I feel a great pride as the U.N. played a significant role for the independence of South Sudan," Ban said.
"While some issues remain unresolved, including a demarcation between South and North Sudan, the independence was a result of close consultations between the U.N. and relevant nations," he said.
South Sudan is set to become the 193rd country recognized by the U.N. next week.
(END)
