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| China-Japan-Koreas |
| S. Korea moves to stop funding exchanges with Norks |
| 2010-05-17 |
| SEOUL, May 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is moving to stop funding government-level exchanges with North Korea, citing strained relations with the communist neighbor and tension over the sinking of a South Korean warship near their border, a Seoul official said Monday. The Unification Ministry official said his ministry formally requested 10 other ministries last week to suspend budgets related to exchanges with North Korea. "We find it difficult to continue to fund exchanges with North Korea in the midst of tension over recent developments," the official said, declining to be identified. The ministry already urged about 200 South Korean companies last week to refrain from signing new deals or supplying resources to North Korea. Tensions between the divided countries have run high since a 1,200-ton South Korean naval boat sank March 26 in the Yellow Sea, killing 46 sailors. Seoul officials suspect the North of involvement in the sinking. Adding to the tension, North Korea last month confiscated or froze South Korean assets at a joint mountain resort on its east coast in anger over Seoul's refusal to resume cross-border tours. The move prompted Seoul to pledge retaliatory measures, while Pyongyang threatened to "completely review" a joint industrial park in its border town of Kaesong near the west coast. Observers say a complete package of South Korean retaliatory measures will be formally announced after investigators release their findings on Thursday. |
| Posted by:Steve White |