NK weekly-inter-Korean news

Summary of inter-Korean news this week

SEOUL, Jan. 17 (Yonhap) -- The following is a summary of inter-Korean news this week.

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(LEAD) Choi says S. Korea seeks dialogue with N. Korea but will take firm steps if necessary

SEOUL -- Acting President Choi Sang-mok said Thursday that the government remains open to dialogue with North Korea but will take a firm response to any provocation from Pyongyang based on its strong alliance with the United States.

Choi made the remarks during a 2025 policy direction meeting on diplomacy and security issues. The meeting included key officials from the National Security Office, as well as the foreign, unification, defense and veterans ministries.

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Unification ministry to prioritize stable security management on Korean Peninsula in 2025

SEOUL -- The unification ministry plans to prioritize stable security management on the Korean Peninsula this year, including carefully addressing activists' launch of propaganda leaflets into North Korea, officials said Thursday.

The ministry reported the plan to acting President Choi Sang-mok as part of its 2025 policy direction, as South Korea is under Choi's interim leadership following the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol over his short-lived imposition of martial law last month.

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S. Korea stresses N.K. denuclearization 'unanimous goal' after Rubio remarks

SEOUL -- South Korea reaffirmed Thursday that denuclearizing North Korea is a "unanimous goal" shared by the international community, after incoming U.S. President Donald Trump's nominee for top diplomat suggested a review of Washington's policy on Pyongyang.

Marco Rubio, the nominee for Secretary of State, said in a confirmation hearing before the Senate on Wednesday (local time) that there is a need for Washington to take a "serious" review of North Korea policy to explore how to lower the risk of "inadvertent" war between the two Koreas.

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S. Korea says N. Korea can never be recognized as nuclear power after Trump nominee refers to Pyongyang as one

SEOUL -- North Korea cannot be recognized as a nuclear-armed state under the international nonproliferation treaty, and its denuclearization is a principle shared by all parties involved, including South Korea and the United States, Seoul's foreign ministry said Wednesday.

The ministry made the comments after U.S. Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth described the North as a nuclear power in his written answers submitted to the U.S. Senate for his confirmation hearing Tuesday (U.S. time).

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Top military officer opposes probe into Pyongyang drone infiltration claim

SEOUL -- Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Adm. Kim Myung-soo voiced concerns Tuesday over a potential probe into allegations that the South Korean military flew drones over Pyongyang last year, citing the need to maintain ambiguity in responding to North Korea's claim.

The JCS chairman made the remark as he dismissed suspicions raised by the opposition bloc that the military engaged in activities aimed at inducing North Korea's provocations ahead of President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched martial law imposition last month.

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(2nd LD) Defense ministry rejects as 'not true' claims that military induced N. Korea's provocations

SEOUL -- The defense ministry on Monday rejected allegations that its suspension of an inter-Korean military pact and resumption of anti-Pyongyang loudspeaker broadcasts were aimed at inducing North Korea's provocations ahead of December's martial law imposition.

The ministry's response came amid suspicions raised by the opposition bloc and some media reports that the military "intentionally" took part in such activities to prompt North Korea to stage provocations in connection with President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived martial law imposition on Dec. 3.

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