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SEOUL (Reuters): South Korea will not join a U.S.-led plan to intercept North Korean ships suspected of carrying arms cargo as a part of sanctions on Pyongyang for conducting a nuclear test, reports said on Monday.
South Korea has reviewed whether to expand its participation in the plan after the North's October 9 nuclear test, but it has been wary that such an operation near the Korean peninsula could escalate military tension with the North. “The government will express support for the goal and principles of the (plan) but will not formally join for the time being considering the special situation on the Korean peninsula,” the JoongAng Ilbo newspaper quoted an official as saying.
The decision was reached at a meeting of government officials and ruling Uri Party leaders at the weekend, the JoongAng Ilbo said.
Foreign ministry officials were not able to confirm the report.
The plan, known formally as the Proliferation Security Initiative, was announced by President George W. Bush in 2003, and aims to halt trade that facilitates the construction of weapons of mass destruction and includes stopping and searching ships on the high seas.
It is a voluntary program not based on any international treaty but instead draws on the political decisions and domestic laws of participating countries.
South Korea has been an observer of various exercises under the program.
South Korea has said it has a bilateral maritime agreement with North Korea that allows for inspection of ships that sail between the ports of the two Koreas.
But opposition lawmakers have criticised the government, saying no such inspections have been conducted since the agreement was signed in 2004.
