Ryu Woo Ik Minister of Unification revealed on the 18th, “If the North Korean authorities continue starving the people and carrying out provocations then they will have to endure through more isolations and sanctions”.

Minister Ryu at the press conference said yesterday relating to North Korea’s rocket launch, “Albeit it (rocket launch) failed, it is a serious provocative act and a serious threat to security which is also confirming that North Korea will continue its nuclear weapon development”.

Ryu emphasized, “Kim Jong Eun system has had a bad start but the South Korean government has no intentions of shaking or overthrowing the North Korean regime”, “There needs to be a ‘fundamental reflection’ on the past 20 years of nuclear conflict with the North”.

He added, “There are public opinions that are keeping an eye on the vicious cycle of trying to solve North Korea’s nuclear issues”, stating that there is a limit in the continuous process of ‘dialogueprovocationrewarddialogue’ trying to achieve denuclearization in North Korea.

Minister Ryu continued, “We are seeking ways to continue discussions with North Korea watching closely the public opinions”, “However, flexible measures which has been going on would have to be deferred for now”.

In the past, the South Korean government as part of its flexible measure has been focusing on non-political areas as religious, arts and culture, academic sector and dialogue but because of North Korea’s rocket launch it has become difficult to go on with these measures.

However he said, “We will maintain humanitarian assistance and support to vulnerable groups through international organizations”.

Minister Ryu concluded, “It is a difficult phase now but we will not put aside expectations”, “We will always keep doors open so that North Korea will have the opportunity to go towards the right and beneficial path”.