The Korea Herald

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Lawmakers, EU envoys discuss N.K. at National Assembly

By Korea Herald

Published : Jan. 24, 2016 - 22:54

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Twenty-two ambassadors and diplomats of the European Union based in Seoul spoke with the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs Committee last week to discuss the ongoing North Korean nuclear threats, inter-Korean relations and foreign policy.

In a luncheon meeting Thursday organized by Rep. Na Kyung-won, chairwoman of the parliamentary committee on foreign affairs, the envoys stressed the EU’s united stance in condemning Pyongyang for its fourth nuclear test on Jan. 6, and its commitment to pressure the regime toward disarmament through diplomacy.

Na noted that a parliamentary resolution was unanimously passed on Jan. 8 to condemn the nuclear detonation, press for denuclearization and gather international support. Dealing with Pyongyang requires a two-track approach of sanctions and dialogue, she added. 

Twenty-two ambassadors and diplomats of the European Union pose at a luncheon meeting organized by Rep. Na Kyung-won (center, front row), chairwoman of the Korean parliamentary foreign affairs committee, to discuss the latest North Korean nuclear test and its implications for foreign policy, at the National Assembly on Thursday. Rep. Kim Se-yeon is on Na’s right. (National Assembly) Twenty-two ambassadors and diplomats of the European Union pose at a luncheon meeting organized by Rep. Na Kyung-won (center, front row), chairwoman of the Korean parliamentary foreign affairs committee, to discuss the latest North Korean nuclear test and its implications for foreign policy, at the National Assembly on Thursday. Rep. Kim Se-yeon is on Na’s right. (National Assembly)

EU Ambassador to Korea Gerhard Sabathil said that Korea is EU’s “closest strategic partner in Asia,” having triple compacts of the EU-Korea free trade agreement, the Framework Agreement and the pending agreement on crisis management.

Emphasizing that the EU has continually urged the North to forgo its weapons of mass destruction program and return to the six-party talks and other negotiations, Sabathil said Europe would maintain bilateral and multilateral channels of “critical dialogue,” with the key objective of improving the country’s dire human rights situation.

“Our approach to North Korea has been one of ‘critical engagement,’ which means that we maintain a diplomatic relationship but we do so in a critical way, raising issues and presenting our views plain and clear,” British Ambassador Charles Hay said.

“We have scaled back our contact with the regime, following our Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond’s condemnation immediately after the test.”

The U.K., Germany, Sweden, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania and the Czech Republic have embassies in Pyongyang, albeit under difficult conditions stemming from frequent power cuts and severe restrictions on movement, according to media sources. 

Twenty-two ambassadors and diplomats of the European Union pose at a luncheon meeting organized by Rep. Na Kyung-won, chairwoman of the Korean parliamentary foreign affairs committee, to discuss the latest North Korean nuclear test and its implications for foreign policy, at the National Assembly on Thursday. (National Assembly) Twenty-two ambassadors and diplomats of the European Union pose at a luncheon meeting organized by Rep. Na Kyung-won, chairwoman of the Korean parliamentary foreign affairs committee, to discuss the latest North Korean nuclear test and its implications for foreign policy, at the National Assembly on Thursday. (National Assembly)

Answering a question by German Ambassador Rolf Mafael, who asked how the nuclear test would affect Seoul’s cooperative initiatives with Pyongyang, Na said that social and cultural programs would be halted for some time, although the Gaesong Industrial Complex will continue to operate with participating South Korean companies.

She added, responding to a question by Romanian Ambassador Calin Fabian: “Setting up a mid-term goal to rein in Pyongyang’s nuclear program would be more a more realistic option, bearing in mind our ultimate aim of dismantling their nuclear arsenal.”

In response to Bulgarian Ambassador Petar Andonov’s question about possible policy moderation regarding the North from President Park Geun-hye administration, Na underscored that “no fundamental change” would occur in Seoul’s peninsular trust-building process, although the “speed” of engagement and “direction” of policy might be reevaluated.

Regarding China’s cooperation and practical ways to secure its leverage, which Irish Ambassador Aingeal O’Donoghue asked, Na conceded: “Altering China’s position is difficult. However, if Beijing realizes that the North’s nuclear brinksmanship threatens the peace and stability of not only the Korean Peninsula, but that of entire Northeast Asia, it will join forces more actively. The talk of developing military nuclear capacity within South Korea has surfaced from our ruling party.”

Rep. Kim Se-yeon, member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, underlined that the Korean government has felt “disappointment” over Beijing’s apparent lack of action beyond verbal denouncement; the possibility of setting up Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, as “the last measure of security and self-protection,” should be discussed, he said.

By Joel Lee (joel@heraldcorp.com)

Rep. Na Kyung-won, chairwoman of the Korean parliamentary foreign affairs committee. (National Assembly) Rep. Na Kyung-won, chairwoman of the Korean parliamentary foreign affairs committee. (National Assembly)