N. Korea in pinch amid shift in global security situation: FM Yun

SEOUL, Dec. 17 (Yonhap) -- North Korea seems to be in an increasingly bad dilemma amid a wave of changes in security conditions abroad, including the Iranian nuclear deal and improved ties between Cuba and the U.S., South Korea's top diplomat said Thursday. Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se expected Pyongyang to intensify efforts to break its isolation in 2016. "I think North Korea has suffered more distress this year than any other time," he said in a session of civilian policy advisors for the Foreign Ministry. "The wind of important change is blowing around the world, including in Cuba, which has restored diplomatic ties with the U.S. after 54 years and in Iran which has struck a nuclear deal." North Korea is apparently a country that feels the "biggest pain" in that regard, Yun added. The issue of urgent concern is whether the North will seek dialogue or resume provocative acts ahead of the seventh Congress of the Workers' Party in May next year, he pointed out. The minister said that Seoul will continue to push for the denuclearization of the North through a more active two track approach of pressure and dialogue. He also said Pyongyang-Beijing ties appear to be standing at a crossroads again in the wake of the abrupt cancellation of shows by North Korea's all-female band. Speculation grew that their relations were gradually reentering a phase of improvement with a trip by top Chinese communist party official Liu Yunshan to Pyongyang in October. "But it remains to be seen keenly how the North Korea-China ties will play out due to the (recent) incident in which the Moranbong Band called off its performance in Beijing," Yun said. lcd@yna.co.kr (END)