With a "bold initiative" the South Korean Presidency wants to give the North a helping hand and is offering comprehensive economic aid. In return, the country should agree to nuclear disarmament. North Korea dismisses the proposal as "the height of absurdity".
North Korea has rejected a South Korean offer of extensive economic aid in exchange for nuclear disarmament. The powerful sister of ruler Kim Jong Un, Kim Yo Jong, described the proposal as "the height of absurdity", according to the state news agency KCNA.
The fact that South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol believes North Korea will trade its "honor" and "nuclear weapons" for economic cooperation shows that the South Korean President is "really simple and still childish," Yo Jong said. "No one trades their destiny for a corncake." She also accused South Korea of re-launching previous proposals, likening Yoon to a barking dog.
The South Korean Presidency regretted Kim Yo Jong's "rude" remarks but stressed the offer is still on the table. "North Korea's stance is in no way conducive to peace and prosperity on the Korean peninsula and its (North Korea's) own future and only increases isolation from the international community."
Yoon had proposed what he called a "bold initiative" on Monday, according to which his country could provide North Korea with food supplies, energy and infrastructure if Pyongyang disarms nuclear weapons. In his inaugural speech in May, Yoon promised the North extensive economic aid in return for nuclear disarmament.
According to experts, however, the probability that Pyongyang will accept such an offer is negligible. North Korea invests a large part of its economic output in its armaments program every year and has made it clear on several occasions that it has no intention of accepting offers of denuclearization.
