South Korea Imposes Mild Penalties on Pyongyang
SEOUL, South Korea -- South Korea made official its intention not to strongly penalize North Korea for its Oct. 9 nuclear test, in an expected blow to U.S. efforts to punish Pyongyang.
Seoul yesterday unveiled a package of mild penalties and largely symbolic actions that it said would comply with sanctions imposed by the United Nations Security Council. But Seoul refused to fully join a U.S.-led effort to intercept North Korean ships for cargo inspections.
The new penalties will have little effect on South Korea's nearly $1 billion in annual trade with North Korea. The South will continue two high-profile joint projects on the border: a factory complex in Kaesong and a tourist resort at Mt. Kumgang, a mountain in North Korea near the border with the South. In the days after North Korea's test, South Korean leaders made it clear they wouldn't impose tough penalties on their neighbor.
As North Korea's second-largest trading partner after China, South Korea's influence on Pyongyang is considered to be far greater than countries such as the U.S. and Japan, which have limited economic ties to the communist state.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in mid-October asked leaders in South Korea, China and Japan to participate more fully in the U.S.-led Proliferation Security Initiative, known as PSI.
Yesterday's package won't increase South Korea's participation in the PSI, which involves sharing intelligence on suspected arms trafficking and then swooping in on ships or planes suspected of carrying illicit cargo. Seoul could particularly help PSI countries keep track of North Korean ships as they pass through South Korean waters. A PSI country can only conduct searches in the waters of another participating country. Once ships reach international waters, they can pass freely.
In a statement yesterday, the South Korean government said it "supports the purpose and principles of PSI and will adjust the scope of our participation at our discretion."
As part of the package of penalties, Seoul announced a halt to subsidies to promote tourist visits to Mt. Kumgang, These visits have amounted to about $3 million to $5 million in trade annually in recent years. South Korea had already cut rice and fertilizer shipments to North Korea following missile tests in July, though most planned shipments for the year had been completed before then.
The South Korean government gave little explanation of the thinking that went into yesterday's package. Analysts and conservative politicians in South Korea in recent weeks have said the administration of President Roh Moo Hyun is fearful of taking steps that would aggravate North Korea or antagonize the North's dictator, Kim Jong Il.
Some members of South Korea's ruling Uri party have said the North might start a war if the South goes too far. Asked about the role of fear in shaping the penalties, Deputy Foreign Minister Park In Kook said, "We pay attention to sensitivities." He declined to comment further.
韩国不愿对朝鲜实施严厉制裁
韩国政府的态度很清楚：它不会针对朝鲜十月九日进行的核试验而对朝鲜实施严厉制裁。
韩国周一宣布了针对朝鲜的一揽子温和的、基本是象征性的惩罚措施，韩国表示，这些措施与联合国安理会制裁朝鲜的精神是一致的。韩国政府宣布，停止资助金刚山旅游推广援助计划。金刚山位于朝鲜境内接近韩国一侧，近年来，韩国政府在国民中大力推广金刚山旅游项目，朝鲜每年在该项目上获得的收入达到了约300万至500万美元。
相关报导
? 金融重压促使朝鲜重返六方会谈
? 朝鲜同意重返六方会谈
? 韩国人的统一情结
不过，韩国的制裁计划对两国间每年规模近10亿美元的贸易不会产生影响。韩国将继续推进两国在边境地区兴建的合作项目，一个是开城工业园，另一个就是金刚山旅游景点。
十月初，朝鲜在其东北沿海的一座山洞里进行了地下核试验。几天后，韩国领导人就明确表示，不会对朝鲜实施严厉制裁。不过，韩国昨天宣布的决定对希望严厉制裁朝鲜的美国仍不啻是一个打击。
美国国务卿赖斯(Condoleezza Rice)十月中旬曾访问亚洲，希望韩国、中国和日本更全面地加入到美国牵头的防止核扩散安全计划(PSI)中来。韩国是仅次于中国的朝鲜第二大贸易伙伴国，它对朝鲜的影响比美、日等与朝鲜在经济上几无往来的国家更大。
周一宣布的一揽子制裁措施将不会加大韩国在PSI的参与度。这个计划要求各方分享有关朝鲜武器走私的情报，对怀疑携带非法货物的船只或飞机登船/机搜查。韩国可以帮助PSI成员国跟踪朝鲜船只，因为朝鲜船只在航行中经常会涉足韩国水域。PSI成员国只能在其他成员国的水域实施检查。船只一旦进入公海都有权自由航行，任何人不得加以干涉。
韩国政府在周一的声明中表示，“支持PSI的行动目的和原则，并将根据自身情况调整参加的范围”。
韩国政府没有说明宣布上述一揽子制裁措施的思路。不过，分析师及韩国保守派政治人士最近几周曾表示，卢武铉(Roh Moo Hyun)总统不愿采取那些可能会激怒朝鲜的做法。
在朝鲜七月份试射导弹后，韩国削减了对朝鲜的稻米和化肥援助，不过，原计划的全年援助指标当时已经全部完成。韩国执政党开放国民党内的一些人士表示，如果韩国在制裁方面走得太远，朝鲜有可能发起战争。在被问及对朝鲜的担心在确定对朝制裁方案时起到了什么影响时，韩国外交部副部长Park In Kook不愿做过多解释，只说：我们关注敏感性因素。
另一位要求不透露姓名的政府官员说：“制裁方案的制定没有考虑这方面的担心。也没有试图平息的意思。情况在不断变化，我们的回应也会变化。”他说，韩国将根据下个月六方会谈的情况决定增加或减少制裁措施。
韩、朝两国及美国、日本、俄罗斯和中国自2003年开始启动六方会谈，到目前共进行过6轮，2005年9月各方曾达成临时协议。后来，美国方面威胁对帮助朝鲜从事非法金融活动的银行予以制裁，朝鲜随后退出了六方会谈。
Evan Ramstad
