“Extraordinary change”
North Korea cuts economic ties with South Korea
February 8, 2024, 11:29 a.m
Listen to article
This audio version was artificially generated. More info | Send feedback
North Korea and ruler Kim Jong Un are suspending economic cooperation with their southern neighbor. In South Korea people are surprised at the decision – and make an offer.
North Korea’s Supreme People’s Assembly has voted to revoke all agreements signed with South Korea promoting economic cooperation. This was reported by the North Korean state news agency KCNA. At the same time, the People’s Assembly voted to abolish all laws regulating existing economic relations with Seoul.
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol called the shift in North Korea’s inter-Korean policy “an extraordinary change” in a recorded television interview. It is difficult to understand what is behind it. Yoon, who has taken a hard line on Pyongyang, said he was still willing to reach out to the North. Even a summit with Kim is possible if it would help North Korea’s economy.
Relations between South Korea and North Korea, which is largely isolated internationally, are currently at a low point. North Korea’s leader Kim wants to expand weapons development, including tactical nuclear weapons. In response, South Korea, Japan and the United States have increased defense cooperation and held joint military exercises. At the same time, North Korea repeatedly carried out new weapons tests. Just a few days ago, several cruise missiles were launched from the north.
State media reported that the latest test came after Kim Jong Un inspected warships at a naval shipyard to bolster his naval forces as part of “war preparations.” “Strengthening naval forces is currently the most important issue in reliably defending the country’s maritime sovereignty and intensifying war preparations,” Kim said at the Nampho shipyard, according to state news agency KCNA.
Isolated North Korea and democratic South Korea are officially still at war. After the end of the Korean War in 1953, an armistice agreement was sealed, but there is no peace treaty. The two countries are separated by a 248 kilometer long demilitarized zone.