Seoul [South Korea], February 8: KCNA news agency today reported that the Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (SPA) voted to cancel all agreements signed with South Korea on promoting economic cooperation.
In addition, the council also voted to repeal the law regulating economic relations with Seoul, including a special law on the operation of the Mount Kumgang tourism project. The SPA is the highest authority under North Korea 's constitution . Mr. Choe Ryong-hae, Chairman of the SPA Standing Committee, chaired this week's meeting.
Tours to Mount Kumgang on the inter-Korean border have long been a symbol of economic cooperation between the two sides. The project was suspended in 2008 after a South Korean tourist who strayed into a restricted area was shot and killed by North Korean soldiers.
The vote took place on February 7, in the context of relations between Pyongyang and Seoul continuously deteriorating, and after North Korea declared there was "no point" in efforts to unify with South Korea.
During the party meeting at the end of 2023, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un defined inter-Korean relations as a relationship between "two countries hostile to each other". In January, North Korea decided to disband agencies handling inter-Korean issues, including the agency in charge of economic cooperation.
North Korea last year also canceled a military pact signed in 2018 to reduce escalating tensions near the military border, which was signed under a ceasefire agreement during the 1950-1953 Korean War.
In an interview broadcast by state television station KBS late on February 7, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol called the change in North Korea's inter-Korean policy "an extraordinary change". He said it was "difficult" to understand the thinking behind the move.
Mr. Yoon, who has a tough stance on Pyongyang, said he was still willing to cooperate with North Korea, even by holding a summit with Mr. Kim and providing aid if that would help the economy. this country's economy.
KCNA separately reported that Kim on February 7 toured national food and consumer goods factories and gave instructions on modernizing facilities as part of implementing the policy. develop new areas.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
