South Korea says it has no hostile intentions toward North Korea

South Korea's Unification Minister affirmed that Seoul has "no hostile intentions" toward Pyongyang, while calling on North Korea to return to dialogue.

In a press conference on May 22, South Korean Unification Minister Kwon Young-se called on leader Kim Jong-un to "look back at the deteriorating economic situation" in the context of North Korea being subject to a series of sanctions related to its nuclear and missile programs.

"We do not have any hostile intentions toward North Korea, nor do we seek to change the status quo by force," Minister Kwon Young-se said. He affirmed that South Korea is ready to discuss all issues with North Korea, and asked leader Kim Jong-un to promote cooperation and dialogue.

South Korean Unification Minister Kwon Young-se at a press conference on May 22. Photo: News1 — South Korean Unification Minister Kwon Young-se at a press conference on May 22. Photo: *News1*

Mr. Kwon Young-se made the call after North Korea announced that it had completed preparations to put a military satellite on a rocket. The launch is expected to take place in June.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on May 16 inspected the satellite base and attended a meeting with the committee in charge of preparing for satellite launch and inspection.

Mr. Kim Jong-un said that launching a satellite was an urgent requirement to strengthen North Korea's defense capabilities in the context of "the US and South Korea increasingly recklessly escalating their moves against North Korea."

Recent military activities by all sides have escalated tensions on the Korean Peninsula. The US has deployed many weapons and strategic vehicles to South Korea, as well as organized many joint exercises with South Korea and Japan to demonstrate its military capabilities to North Korea.

North Korea has criticized the US-South Korea military exercises as pushing the regional situation "towards an irreversible disaster and the brink of nuclear war." These activities have gone beyond the limit of North Korea's tolerance and it will respond by demonstrating its deterrence capabilities "through offensive operations."

Nguyen Tien (According to Yonhap )

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