SEOUL (SOUTH KOREA) – South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Friday accepted the resignation of the minister responsible for strengthening relations with North Korea. The resignation comes in the wake of tensions with Pyongyang rising over the activities of defectors in the South.
Kim Yeon-chul, who oversees engagement with North Korea, offered to step down on Wednesday, making himself accountable for the worsening ties.
Moon’s approval rating fell to 55%, the lowest in about three months, fuelled by worries over North Korea, according to a Gallup Korea poll released on Friday.
Pyongyang has snubbed Seoul’s calls for engagement as efforts to restart inter-Korean economic projects were halted due to international sanctions designed to rein in the North’s nuclear and missile programmes.
Pyongyang is also concerned about defectors in the South sending propaganda leaflets into North Korea.
Blaming South Korea for not trying to rein in defectors, North Korea this week blew up the joint liaison office on its side of the border, declaring an end to dialogue and threatened military action.
Unification Ministry spokeswoman Cho Hye-sil told a briefing on Friday that a plan to send hundreds of bottles stuffed with rice, medicine and medical face masks to North Korea by throwing them into the sea near the border on Sunday, has been put on hold.
After a flurry of critical statements earlier this week, North Korean officials did not issue direct criticism of South Korea for the second consecutive day on Friday.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field