[Courtesy of Terra Production]
South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se called Monday for a diplomatic push to force North Korea into negotiations on denuclearisation through the strict implementation of sanctions against the isolated country.
Yun said South Korea should lead the international community in enforcing the UN Security Council resolution calling tough sanctions against North Korea.
"We must not become lax in implementing ( sanctions) and encourage the international community to follow it so that the pressure exerted on the North by our allies will create synergy," Yun said during a meeting of ambassadors.
A strict implementation of UN sanctions will force North Korea to come out for meaningful denuclearization talks, he said.
Cross-border tensions have been high following North Korea's nuclear and long-range rocket tests.
Over the weekend, US and South Korean marines launched a major 12-day landing exercise called "Ssangyong" in the southeastern port city of Pohang. It is part of a broad field exercise aimed at checking the deployment of US troops from abroad.
US troops brought in two US amphibious assault vessels, seaborne combat jets, and helicopters as well as 30 warships. South Korea mobilized an amphibious assault vessel and dozens of armoured veichles.
Across South Korea, US and South Korean troops have been involved in the annual Key Resolve and Foal Eagle exercises which run through April 30 to test a new operational scheme aimed at preparing the allies for preemptive attacks against North Korea ahead of its possible invasion across the border.
Joint military drills by South Korea and the United States are becoming more offensive-oriented, shifting the focus toward infiltration and preemptive strikes away from defense against North Korean attacks.
Aju News Lim Chang-won = cwlim34@ajunews.com
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
