Unification Minister blames North for 'irresponsible' silence

Unification Minister Kwon Young-se speaks to reporters at a press briefing at the Central Government Complex in Jongno District, central Seoul on Tuesday morning. [YONHAP]

South Korean Unification Minister Kwon Young-se blamed North Korea for suspending inter-Korean communication in a statement on Tuesday, where he said the regime's sudden silence would only deepen its isolation.

In his statement, Kwon expressed “regret” for the North’s “unilateral and irresponsible” suspension of communication with the South via the inter-Korean liaison line and the military hotline since Friday.

“I strongly warn North Korea that this [behavior] will only isolate itself and deepen the difficult situation it finds itself in,” the unification minister said.

Kwon also warned the North that its use of South Korean companies’ machinery and equipment at the Kaesong Industrial Complex was a violation of prior inter-Korean agreements guaranteeing the security of South Korean investments in the North, as well as the North’s own law governing the site.

The minister said the South Korean government “will undertake all possible measures to demand accountability for the North’s actions,” including through cooperation with the international community.

BY MICHAEL LEE [lee.junhyuk@joongang.co.kr]