South Korean Minister to resign following pressure in ties with the North: Report
Kim Yeon-chul, a nominee for South Korean Unification MInister, attends a confirmation hearing for the post of Unification Minister at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, March 26, 2019. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji
South Korean Unification Minister, Kim Yeon-chul may be the ‘first political casualty’ due to rising tensions between North Korea and South Korea, according to Foreign Policy (FP).
According to reports, the Unification Minister may become a political casualty due to the escalating tensions between the North and South Korea. Kim Yeon-chul reportedly stepped down form his position earlier today.
It is pertinent to note that Kim had offered to resign, on Wednesday, in lieu of mounting tensions on the Korean Peninsula. The resignation was accepted by the President, Moon Jae-in today, according to FP reports. It has been suggested that the latest conflict arose in connection with activities of South Korean defector groups who had reportedly dropped pamphlets across the North Korean border.
Moreover, Pyongyang has been known to show a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to such activities as they have previously threatened to ‘re-garrison’ vacant guard posts near what is considered to be the demilitarized area. Meanwhile, North Korea has allegedly given a display of its displeasure by reportedly blowing up an inter-Korean liaison office, respectively.
Although there has been no official statement from North Korea apart from its show of displeasure, the South Korean government has been quoted as attempting to diffuse tensions by ‘banning’ defector organizations. Following the move, popularity of the newly elected Moon Jae-in has dropped significantly to what is considered his lowest in three months. According to Gallup Korea, Moon’s approval rating is estimated at 55 percent, respectively.
In addition to this, according to Doug Bandow of Foreign Policy, South Korea needs to rethink its strategy as their current position of sacrificing the basic rights of its citizens by encouraging North Korea. He wrote that Seoul has “abandoned its leverage”. Reportedly, the FP Correspondent is of the opinion that South Korea should instead “shutting down such activities”, the South should focus on encouraging the defector organizations.
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