On May 23, South Korean National Security Advisor Cho Tae-yong assessed that North Korea could deploy its first military reconnaissance satellite "in the near future."
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| South Korean National Security Adviser Cho Tae-yong warned that Seoul will make efforts to respond to Pyongyang if North Korea launches a military spy satellite. |
In an interview, Mr. Cho Tae-yong warned that North Korea would be subject to stronger sanctions if it went ahead with the above plan.
South Korea's National Security Advisor made it clear that although the launch did not take place as previously stated by North Korean President Kim Jong-un that the plan could be implemented by the end of April, there is a possibility that a launch will take place "in the near future".
According to South Korean officials, if that event happens, Seoul "will try to strike back and that will result in North Korea being further isolated diplomatically in the international community."
Specifically, Seoul will urge the international community to strictly enforce sanctions against Pyongyang, while imposing additional independent sanctions together with like-minded countries.
A day earlier, South Korean Unification Minister Kwon Young-se called on North Korea to stop its actions and return to the dialogue table, stressing that Seoul has no "hostile" intentions toward Pyongyang and will not seek to change the status quo by force.
Mr. Kwon affirmed that the South Korean government is "ready" to discuss all issues with North Korea.
The statements came as North Korea announced it had completed preparations to mount its first military spy satellite on a rocket, fueling speculation that Pyongyang could launch the satellite as early as June.
In another development related to inter-Korean relations, informed sources said on May 23 that this month, a North Korean ship warned a South Korean cargo ship sailing in international waters in the Sea of Japan.
According to the source, on May 8, people on the North Korean ship sent a message via the international maritime communication network asking the 30,000-ton cargo ship to move further away.
The cargo ship is believed to have 21 crew members, including two South Koreans. It is not yet clear whether the North Koreans on board are civilians or military personnel.
Following the message from North Korea, the South Korean ship informed the South Korean Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of what had happened and took a detour to waters south of the Northern Limit Line (NLL) - the de facto maritime border between the two Koreas.
The South Korean military is said to have been put on alert until the ship returns safely.
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