South Korea will make North Korea pay for its 'recklessness'

(Baonghean.vn) - North Korea will pay the price for its missile launches and nuclear tests with instability and economic barriers. That was the statement of South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha to reporters on September 11 in Seoul.

North Korea's Hwasong-12 intermediate-range strategic ballistic missile is launched from an undisclosed location near Pyongyang on August 29. Photo: KCNA/AFP

“North Korea has chosen a reckless path. The price it will pay for its repeated provocations while ignoring the wishes of the peace-loving international community will be instability and economic troubles,” the official said.

South Korea's foreign minister also confirmed Seoul's commitment to peacefully resolving the crisis on the Korean Peninsula.

“The government of our republic will continue to work toward achieving a common goal of the international community: the complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization of North Korea,” Kang stressed.

“This will not be easy, but we will continue in this direction with patience and full confidence in the military alliance between the Republic of Korea and the United States and the alliance's military deterrence capabilities,” she said.

“This issue is not being considered at the government policy level at the moment. Our policy is to fully commit to denuclearization. Of course, we are a free democratic country and there are many different views on this issue. We are mindful of public opinion that relies on South Korea’s nuclear weapons,” the senior South Korean diplomat added.

The South Korean foreign minister also noted that if the government were forced to consider the issue, it would not be possible to make a quick decision due to “many sensitive aspects,” including nuclear non-proliferation issues.

On September 11, the United Nations Security Council will vote to approve a draft resolution proposed by the US on increasing sanctions against North Korea in response to its nuclear test.

The situation on the Korean Peninsula remains tense as Pyongyang continues to develop its nuclear and missile programs. In July, North Korea conducted two ballistic missile launches and on September 3 announced the successful test of a hydrogen bomb that can be used as a warhead on an intercontinental ballistic missile. The news has been met with a strong reaction from the international community. China has criticized Pyongyang's moves, and South Korea and the United States have not ruled out a military response.

Phu Binh

(According to TASS)