South Korea won’t lift North Korea sanctions without US’ approval: Donald Trump
On Wednesday, October 10, US President Donald Trump said that South Korea will not lift sanctions from North Korea without his approval. These sanctions were imposed in 2010 after North sunk a South Korean ship.
Trump told reporters when he was asked about the comments of South Korean Foreign Minister, “They won’t do it without our approval. They do nothing without our approval”.
Trump said, “We haven’t removed sanctions. We have very big sanctions. I’d love to remove them but we have to get something for doing that”.
Trump says #SouthKorea needs US approval to relieve sanctions against North@realDonaldTrump #USsanctions
Read more: https://t.co/hRX4sSEe24 pic.twitter.com/V60O80uc0T
— Press TV (@PressTV) October 11, 2018
Earlier on Wednesday, Foreign Minister of South Korea, Kang Kyung-Wha said during a parliamentary hearing that South Korea is considering to lift sanctions from North Korea in order to make the denuclearization process fast.
She said, “We are reviewing it with related government agencies”.
On Trump’s remarks of “approval” for South Korea, some conservative opposition lawmakers showed their anger citing it an “insult”.
Kim Jae-kyung from conservative opposition party said, “Approval’ is a strong and insulting word meant to say that we are progressing too fast with the North without seeking consensus with the United States
Kang’s remarks came days after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited North and South Korea for denuclearization talks. Kang accepted that Pompeo had been “discontent” with the military ties between North and South Korea.
South Korean President Moon Jae-In visited North Korea last month from September 18 to September 20. During his visit, both Koreans agreed to start the construction work of connecting rail and road links and opening the joint industrial park in the North Korean border city of Kaesong, which was closed by South Korea after North did nuclear and missile tests in 2016; if conditions are met.