Nuclear programme: Pyongyang’s ambitions ‘imperil trade with S Korea’
Diplomat says North Korea has threatened Seoul and its allies with ‘financial destruction’.
Pakistan and India have already asked Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear programme. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
South Korea seeks Pakistan’s assistance to call for tougher sanctions against Pyongyang’s growing ambition of acquiring nuclear weapons which, according to Seoul, is an indirect threat to Islamabad.
In an exclusive interview with The Express Tribune, South Korean Minister Counselor Cho Koo-rae openly expressed his concerns over North Korea’s drive to become a nuclear power.
The international community fears that Pyongyang “absolutely lacks” control over its nuclear programme, he said, adding that this may lead to banned outfits like al Qaeda getting their hands on nuclear weapons to fulfill their “evil designs”.
“I hope Islamabad will urge United Nations (UN) to come up with tougher sanctions on North Korea,” he said.
Last month, Pyongyang had issued a warning that South Korea should prepare itself for “final destruction” if Seoul and its allies continue pushing for tougher UN resolutions against North Korea’s nuclear programme.
Cho Koo-rae was of the view that Pyongyang’s ambition to be a nuclear power could hamper trade cooperation between Islamabad and Seoul.
“Islamabad and Karachi’s business community have stakes in the Korean region. Thousands of Pakistanis work in South Korea.”
The two countries share a trade volume of over$1.5 billion and South Korea is the seventh largest trading partner of Pakistan, he added.
According to the minister counselor, senior officials of three to four major South Korean companies are currently on a visit to Islamabad to explore more opportunities to invest in energy sector in the near future. Several organisations of South Korea are already involved in the energy sector of Punjab and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, he added.
Seoul holds a similar stance with India, Cho Koo-rae said, because the business community of South Korea feels insecure after a nuclear race has been initiated in the region.
Pakistan and India have already asked Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear programme, the minister counselor said, adding that China and Japan have also expressed their concerns over North Korea’s step against UN charter.
The Korean envoy hailed the statement issued by the foreign office of Pakistan, expressing regrets over the North Korea’s nuclear test. Being a peaceful country and a supporter of non-proliferation regime, Pakistan’s response was according to the expectations of the international community, he said.
“Pakistan is a staunch supporter of non-proliferation regime; it should intensify efforts for a denuclearised Korean Peninsula.”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 4th, 2013.
South Korea seeks Pakistan’s assistance to call for tougher sanctions against Pyongyang’s growing ambition of acquiring nuclear weapons which, according to Seoul, is an indirect threat to Islamabad.
In an exclusive interview with The Express Tribune, South Korean Minister Counselor Cho Koo-rae openly expressed his concerns over North Korea’s drive to become a nuclear power.
The international community fears that Pyongyang “absolutely lacks” control over its nuclear programme, he said, adding that this may lead to banned outfits like al Qaeda getting their hands on nuclear weapons to fulfill their “evil designs”.
“I hope Islamabad will urge United Nations (UN) to come up with tougher sanctions on North Korea,” he said.
Last month, Pyongyang had issued a warning that South Korea should prepare itself for “final destruction” if Seoul and its allies continue pushing for tougher UN resolutions against North Korea’s nuclear programme.
Cho Koo-rae was of the view that Pyongyang’s ambition to be a nuclear power could hamper trade cooperation between Islamabad and Seoul.
“Islamabad and Karachi’s business community have stakes in the Korean region. Thousands of Pakistanis work in South Korea.”
The two countries share a trade volume of over$1.5 billion and South Korea is the seventh largest trading partner of Pakistan, he added.
According to the minister counselor, senior officials of three to four major South Korean companies are currently on a visit to Islamabad to explore more opportunities to invest in energy sector in the near future. Several organisations of South Korea are already involved in the energy sector of Punjab and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, he added.
Seoul holds a similar stance with India, Cho Koo-rae said, because the business community of South Korea feels insecure after a nuclear race has been initiated in the region.
Pakistan and India have already asked Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear programme, the minister counselor said, adding that China and Japan have also expressed their concerns over North Korea’s step against UN charter.
The Korean envoy hailed the statement issued by the foreign office of Pakistan, expressing regrets over the North Korea’s nuclear test. Being a peaceful country and a supporter of non-proliferation regime, Pakistan’s response was according to the expectations of the international community, he said.
“Pakistan is a staunch supporter of non-proliferation regime; it should intensify efforts for a denuclearised Korean Peninsula.”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 4th, 2013.