S.Koreans running out of patience with NK: unification minister

Unification Minister Yu Woo-ik said Wednesday that the South Korean people are “running out of patience” over North Korea’s continued provocations.

“We have no choice but to suspend our efforts that we`ve made so far to expand flexible steps toward the North,” South Korea`s point man on the North told a news conference, adding that Seoul will review existing exchanges and cooperation with Pyongyang.

“It is worrisome how long we can maintain the window of opportunity for the development of inter-Korean relations,” Yu said. Since taking office as unification minister in September last year, he has been pursuing a “flexible” policy toward the North. “If the North continues to fail to feed its people and make provocations, it will face more sanctions and isolation,” he said.

Yu also expressed disappointment over the North’s new leadership, criticizing the Stalinist country`s young leader Kim Jong Un for monopolizing power over all three branches of the government.

“We need a fundamental introspection to sever the vicious circle in which the international community denounces the North’s provocations but provides compensation after a period of time, holds a new round of talks and then have the North walk out of the negotiating room, and sees Pyongyang resorting to more provocations,” he said.

The minister, however, said the government still wants to pursue its proposed inter-Korean contacts for discussion on keeping away insects around an ancient tomb and reunions of separated families.

shcho@donga.com