North Korea rejects aid-for-denuclearisation offer from Seoul
Pyongyang dismisses South Korean proposal, describing it as ‘pipedream-like’
North Korea has dismissed Seoul’s proposal of financial support in exchange for denuclearisation, instead declaring that the offer showed South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol was “really simple”, according to state media.
In a speech on Monday, Yoon had said his government would implement a major food programme, offer help for power generation and boost farming in North Korea, in exchange for nuclear disarmament.
But the offer was rejected by Kim Yo Jong, a member of the politburo and sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who said it was “pipedream-like”. She described the South Korean president as a “shameless person who talks about ‘audacious initiative’ today and forces invasion war practice tomorrow,” reported The Korea Herald.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Kim’s sister also stated her dislike of Yoon “as a human being”. Sky News reported Kim Yo Jong as saying: “It would have been more favourable for his image to shut his mouth, rather than talking nonsense as he had nothing better say”.
Unsurprising response
Although the “democratic South Korea’s economy has flourished over the past few decades”, said the BBC, “the communist-ruled North has always struggled with food shortages” and “consistently faced international sanctions over its nuclear programme”.
However, the North’s response has surprised few. Analysts said the chances of Pyongyang accepting Yoon’s offer were “vanishingly slim”, reported The Guardian, because North Korea invests a “vast chunk of its GDP into developing its nuclear arsenal” and has “long made it clear it will not make that trade”.
As recently as last week, added France24, Pyongyang warned it would “wipe out” Seoul authorities over a recent outbreak of Covid-19. The latest threat came just weeks after Kim Jong Un said his country was “ready to mobilise” its nuclear capability in any war with the US and South Korea.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Chas Newkey-Burden has been part of The Week Digital team for more than a decade and a journalist for 25 years, starting out on the irreverent football weekly 90 Minutes, before moving to lifestyle magazines Loaded and Attitude. He was a columnist for The Big Issue and landed a world exclusive with David Beckham that became the weekly magazine’s bestselling issue. He now writes regularly for The Guardian, The Telegraph, The Independent, Metro, FourFourTwo and the i new site. He is also the author of a number of non-fiction books.
-
Quincy Jones, music icon, is dead at 91
Speed Read The legendary producer is perhaps best known as the architect behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Moldova's pro-West president wins 2nd term
Speed Read Maia Sandu beat Alexandr Stoianoglo, despite suspicions of Russia meddling in the election
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
2024 race ends with swing state barnstorming
Speed Read Kamala Harris and Donald Trump held rallies in battlegrounds over the weekend
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Has the Taliban banned women from speaking?
Today's Big Question 'Rambling' message about 'bizarre' restriction joins series of recent decrees that amount to silencing of Afghanistan's women
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Cuba's energy crisis
The Explainer Already beset by a host of issues, the island nation is struggling with nationwide blackouts
By Rebekah Evans, The Week UK Published
-
Putin's fixation with shamans
Under the Radar Secretive Russian leader, said to be fascinated with occult and pagan rituals, allegedly asked for blessing over nuclear weapons
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Chimpanzees are dying of human diseases
Under the radar Great apes are vulnerable to human pathogens thanks to genetic similarity, increased contact and no immunity
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies hang over Sydney's Mardi Gras
The Explainer Police officer, the former partner of TV presenter victim, charged with two counts of murder after turning himself in
By Austin Chen, The Week UK Published
-
Quiz of The Week: 24 February - 1 March
Puzzles and Quizzes Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will mounting discontent affect Iran election?
Today's Big Question Low turnout is expected in poll seen as crucial test for Tehran's leadership
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Sweden clears final NATO hurdle with Hungary vote
Speed Read Hungary's parliament overwhelmingly approved Sweden's accession to NATO
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published