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Tensions on the Korean Peninsula

South Korean top diplomat vows to respond to Pyongyang's provocations

On September 11, the UN Security Council will vote on a US-proposed draft resolution on toughening sanctions against North Korea

© Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP, File

SEOUL, September 11. /TASS/. North Korea will have to pay for its missile launches and nuclear tests by instability and economic hurdles, South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha told reporters in Seoul on Monday.

"North Korea has taken a reckless path. The price that it will pay for the continuing provocations while ignoring the will of the peaceful international community will be instability and economic problems," the minister said.

The minister confirmed South Korea’s commitment to peaceful settlement of the crisis on the Korean Peninsula.

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"Our republic’s government will continue working towards achieving a common goal of the international community: full, verifiable and irreversible nuclear disarmament of North Korea," Kang stressed.

"This won’t be easy, but we will continue heading in this direction with patience, adamancy and full faith in a military union between South Korea and the Unites States and its capability of [military] containment," she said.

"At the moment, this issue is not being considered at the level of the government’s policy," the top diplomat stressed. "Our policy is a full commitment to denuclearization." "Of course, we are a free democratic country and there have been different views about this issue. We are keeping an eye on the public opinion that has been leaning towards South Korea’s nuclear armament," Kang said.

The minister also noted that if the government is forced to consider this issue, no swift decision is expected due to "many sensitive aspects," including issues of nuclear non-proliferation.

On Monday, the UN Security Council will vote on a US-proposed draft resolution on toughening sanctions against North Korea in response to its nuclear test.

The situation on the Korean Peninsula remains tense amid Pyongyang’s active development of nuclear and missile programs. In July, North Korea carried out two launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles and on September 3 it announced the successful test of a hydrogen bomb, which may be used as a warhead for an intercontinental missile. The news met tough reaction of the world community. China condemned Pyongyang’s steps, and South Korea and the US did not rule out a military response.

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