Support for NK's Olympic delegation may breach world sanctions
Seoul's support may breach international sanctions
By Choi Ha-young
South Korea's pledge to support a North Korean delegation likely to participate in the PyeongChang Winter Olympics has drawn controversy over its possible breach of international sanctions against the nuclear-armed country.
After North Korean leader Kim Jong-un announced the country's willingness to send a delegation to the event, the South Korean government said it would support the visit. And the support may include a financial incentive, such as providing accommodation, transport and other services.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) earlier said it could share the cost of North Koreans' stay if the country participated in the Olympics, but its support may be limited to athletes, not to political figures or other members of the delegation who are non-athletes.
Asked about the cost, unification ministry spokesman Baik Tae-hyun said nothing had been confirmed.
"The IOC said it would share the cost, so it's too early to say how much we will spend," he said Friday.
Choi Moon-soon, governor of Gangwon Province where the Olympics will be held in February, said earlier he was willing to send a cruise ship to North Korea, so the delegation could travel on it to the South and stay aboard at a Gangwon port.
However, sanctions imposed by Seoul, Washington and Tokyo prevent ships departing North Korean ports from entering their territories. The Ministry of Unification also dismissed the governor's offer.
"Some local government bodies' comments on the PyeongChang Games are groundless and incorrect," Baik said at a regular briefing, Friday. "The government respects inter-Korean exchanges through local bodies, but this should be well ordered."
The North's state airline, Air Koryo, is also under sanctions imposed by the U.S. and South Korea.
"The only possible route for a North Korean team is overland route," said Go Myong-hyun, a research fellow at the Asan Institute.
Even if Seoul provides help for North Korea athletes, it will be in format of commodities such as hotel rooms, flight tickets or sports facilities for individual players ― not in cash.
"I don't think North Korea will ask for cash in exchange for Olympics participation, because its leader Kim ordered the participation in public," said Cho Han-bum, senior researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification.
"If the North Koreans are really determined to come to the sporting event, I think South Korea needs to ask for U.S. and the international society's understanding about various types of support."
"Some support may not be in line with the international sanctions. But the application of sanctions could be flexible in terms of humanitarian aid, with permission from the U.S. and the IOC," Cho noted.
Despite sanctions, humanitarian aid for North Korea is still open, and the South Korean government has the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund committed to facilitating inter-Korean exchanges.
"The government should spend the money from the fund in accordance with public opinion, not to cause a dissonance with international society," Baik said. "The government will prepare the event in accordance with the international sanctions, to avoid controversy regarding a possible breach."
Also, some ranking North Korean officials are blacklisted by the South Korean government for their alleged financial involvement in helping the North's arms development.
After the North's fifth nuclear test in 2016, Seoul blacklisted 36 ranking North Korean officials including Hwang Pyong-so and Choe Ryong-hae, who are expected to lead the delegation.
But Go said such officials' visit to the South could be allowed.
"It would be possible if they come to the South as diplomats," he said. "Seoul's sanctions prohibit their financial activity and business for profit, rather than their travel as government officials."
By Choi Ha-young
South Korea's pledge to support a North Korean delegation likely to participate in the PyeongChang Winter Olympics has drawn controversy over its possible breach of international sanctions against the nuclear-armed country.
After North Korean leader Kim Jong-un announced the country's willingness to send a delegation to the event, the South Korean government said it would support the visit. And the support may include a financial incentive, such as providing accommodation, transport and other services.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) earlier said it could share the cost of North Koreans' stay if the country participated in the Olympics, but its support may be limited to athletes, not to political figures or other members of the delegation who are non-athletes.
Asked about the cost, unification ministry spokesman Baik Tae-hyun said nothing had been confirmed.
"The IOC said it would share the cost, so it's too early to say how much we will spend," he said Friday.
Choi Moon-soon, governor of Gangwon Province where the Olympics will be held in February, said earlier he was willing to send a cruise ship to North Korea, so the delegation could travel on it to the South and stay aboard at a Gangwon port.
However, sanctions imposed by Seoul, Washington and Tokyo prevent ships departing North Korean ports from entering their territories. The Ministry of Unification also dismissed the governor's offer.
"Some local government bodies' comments on the PyeongChang Games are groundless and incorrect," Baik said at a regular briefing, Friday. "The government respects inter-Korean exchanges through local bodies, but this should be well ordered."
The North's state airline, Air Koryo, is also under sanctions imposed by the U.S. and South Korea.
"The only possible route for a North Korean team is overland route," said Go Myong-hyun, a research fellow at the Asan Institute.
Even if Seoul provides help for North Korea athletes, it will be in format of commodities such as hotel rooms, flight tickets or sports facilities for individual players ― not in cash.
"I don't think North Korea will ask for cash in exchange for Olympics participation, because its leader Kim ordered the participation in public," said Cho Han-bum, senior researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification.
"If the North Koreans are really determined to come to the sporting event, I think South Korea needs to ask for U.S. and the international society's understanding about various types of support."
"Some support may not be in line with the international sanctions. But the application of sanctions could be flexible in terms of humanitarian aid, with permission from the U.S. and the IOC," Cho noted.
Despite sanctions, humanitarian aid for North Korea is still open, and the South Korean government has the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund committed to facilitating inter-Korean exchanges.
"The government should spend the money from the fund in accordance with public opinion, not to cause a dissonance with international society," Baik said. "The government will prepare the event in accordance with the international sanctions, to avoid controversy regarding a possible breach."
Also, some ranking North Korean officials are blacklisted by the South Korean government for their alleged financial involvement in helping the North's arms development.
After the North's fifth nuclear test in 2016, Seoul blacklisted 36 ranking North Korean officials including Hwang Pyong-so and Choe Ryong-hae, who are expected to lead the delegation.
But Go said such officials' visit to the South could be allowed.
"It would be possible if they come to the South as diplomats," he said. "Seoul's sanctions prohibit their financial activity and business for profit, rather than their travel as government officials."
(责任编辑:资讯)
推荐文章
-
ListentoarticlePresident Asif Ali Zardari has conferred the prestigious Hilal-e-Imtiaz on Olympic go ...[详细]
-
日前,“海丝珍绣——青岛·澳大利亚两地现代刺绣精品展”在青岛民俗博物馆开幕,该展览展出了刺绣艺术家高青敏女士新创作的8.8米刺绣长卷《澳洲 ...[详细]
-
日前,甘肃省陇南市文县赴即墨文化交流周、“印象文县”东西协作示范店、文县文化旅游产品营销中心和文县即墨古城旅游服务中心在即墨古城启动运营。文县素有“陇上江南&rdq ...[详细]
-
中国山东网-感知山东9月7日讯 近日,国际权威机构美国通讯专业联盟League of American Communications Professionals简称LACP,公布了2020年年报评比结 ...[详细]
-
How much will PCB's Champions Cup mentors be paid?
ListentoarticleThe Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed five distinguished mentors for the upc ...[详细] -
本报讯近日,雅安市学前教育名师工作坊第四小组专家组成员、工作坊坊员,到石棉县安顺场先锋小学、先锋中心幼儿园开展2022年春季学期雅安市学前教育名师工作坊线下活动暨石棉县学前教育送教下乡活动。石棉县幼儿 ...[详细]
-
本网讯5月24日上午,以“见证改变的她力量”为主题的“金惠工程-乡村振兴有她”项目开班仪式在我市举行,雅安市数字化金融服务中心将对本次孵化项目全程跟进并提供金融政策、工具培训支持,来自甘肃省、陕西省、 ...[详细]
-
本报讯近日,汉源县发生4.8级地震,当时学校师生正在上课,石棉县各级各类学校迅速作出反应,立即启动应急预案,组织在校校长、班主任、任课教师按照平时地震避险演练要求,引导师生按照指定路线,安全有序撤离到 ...[详细]
-
Apple to start manufacturing iPhone Pro in India, report claims
The first iPhone Pro models to be made in India could be coming as soon as September or October this ...[详细] -
报告主题鲜明,立意深刻,求真务实,有深度、有力度、有温度,系统总结了过去五年四川发展的成绩、发生的重大变化,科学具体地指明了未来五年的发展方向,描绘的宏伟蓝图鼓舞人心,催人奋进。作为医务工作者,我更关 ...[详细]
热点阅读