hankyoreh

By Kim Oi-hyun, staff reporter

Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se warned of an “unimaginable price to pay” in case of a possible fourth nuclear test mentioned by North Korea last weekend.

Delivering the keynote speech on Apr. 10 for an international symposium on “unification of the Korean Peninsula and cooperation in Northeast Asia” organized by the Youido Institute, the think tank of the ruling Saenuri Party (NFP), Yun said that the “biggest challenge for the future of North Korea and the Korean Peninsula is North Korea’s obsession on nuclear capabilities.”

“If North Korea does decide to do another nuclear test, it can expect to pay an unimaginable price,” he added.

Yun went on to say that Pyongyang may find itself even more isolated internationally, adding that Chinese President Xi Jinping “has repeatedly stated his refusal to accept a nuclear-armed North Korea and his rigid opposition to additional nuclear testing.”

“The entire international community, including China, is 100 percent united in refusing to accept North Korea’s nuclear program,” he continued.

Meanwhile, first vice minister of foreign affairs Cho Tae-yong said at a briefing for the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee on Apr. 11 that Seoul would pursue “stern additional sanctions at the United Nations Security Council level” if North Korea does carry out a nuclear test.

Cho also spoke about the discovery of several small drones in South Korea that are believed to be from North Korea, calling them a “overt violation of the armistice agreement.”

“We’re considering lodging a complaint against North Korea through channels related to the armistice agreement,” he added.

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]