North Korea nuclear test ‘betrays South Koreans’

THE president of South Korea Roh Moo-Hyun has said North Korea’s nuclear test was forcing a change in his policy of engagement with the communist state.

President Roh said his government was losing its momentum for continued dialogue due to international calls for sanctions.

“Under these circumstances, the government will find it difficult to stick to its engagement policy,” he said. “We must not give up (on dialogue) but the situation is changing.”

He condemned North Korea’s nuclear test as a threat to peace in Northeast Asia and a betrayal of the hopes of South Koreans.

The president, who had pursued a “sunshine policy” of engagement with the North, said the South “will sternly deal with the issue of North Korea’s nuclear testing through close international co-operation”.

The test will seriously affect relations between the two Koreas, he said.

“This is a grave threat to peace, not only on the Korean peninsula but in the region,” President Roh said in his first response to the North’s announcement which shocked the world.

North Korea depends heavily on trade and aid with the South.

South Korea’s aid to North Korea in 2005 reached $365 million (€290m), according to the Unification Ministry.

Trade with North Korea reached $1.1 billion (€872m) last year.

Two joint projects, the Kaesong industrial complex and the Kumgang resort, have earned the North $100m since they started up, analysts say.

South Korea was also the second biggest food aid donor to its neighbour in 2005, after China.

President Roh said his government would respond in a responsible, careful way.

Last month, he and US President George W Bush agreed on the approach to try to lure the North back to stalled multinational disarmament talks.