SOUTH KOREA-MEMORIAL DAY/PRESIDENT South Korean president urges North Korea to join talks for peace

Record ID: 150305

  • Title: SOUTH KOREA-MEMORIAL DAY/PRESIDENT South Korean president urges North Korea to join talks for peace
  • Date: 6th June 2015
  • Summary: PARK MAKING SPEECH AT PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT PARK GEUN-HYE SAYING: "North Korea repeats its threats toward the international society while developing its nuclear programme and long-range missiles and even recently conducting a missile test from a submarine." AUDIENCE LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT PARK GEUN-HYE SAYING: "No
  • Embargoed: 21st June 2015 13:00
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  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA19AIULO4Y8RPGGN8RW3NK4HAD
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: South Korean President Park Geun-hye on Saturday (June 6) called on North Korea to return to talks on its nuclear programme and to achieve peace on the peninsula.
    "North Korea repeats its threats toward the international society while developing its nuclear programme and long-range missiles and even recently conducting a missile test from a submarine," Park said.
    In early May, North Korea said it had successfully test-fired a ballistic missile from a submarine which, if true, could mean progress in the reclusive state's military capabilities.
    However, analysts and a senior U.S. Navy admiral said that photos showing a North Korean missile launched from a submarine were manipulated by state propagandists, and the isolated country may still be years away from developing the technology.
    North Korea has been hit with U.N. and U.S. sanctions because of its nuclear and missile tests, moves that Pyongyang sees as an attack on its sovereign right to defend itself.
    Park urged Pyongyang to give up its nuclear programme.
    "North Korea should abandon its nuclear armament, which all the countries of the world are concerned about and oppose. And I hope North Korea will immediately take a step towards dialogue and cooperation to achieve peace and co-prosperity on the Korean Peninsula," she said.
    North Korea, which regularly threatens to destroy the United States, walked away from a 2005 deal with China, Japan, Russia, South Korea and the United States to end its nuclear programme in return for diplomatic and economic rewards.
    Then in 2012, weeks after signing a deal calling for a moratorium on nuclear and long-range missile tests, the North launched a ballistic missile, effectively voiding the agreement which had also promised U.S. food aid to the impoverished state.
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