Tensions tightened on the Korean Peninsula yesterday, as North Korea canceled a US envoy’s visit over a jailed Korean American, and Seoul and Washington set dates for military drills denounced by Pyongyang.
Frictions with Pyongyang will dominate the agenda when US Secretary of State John Kerry makes a brief visit to Seoul later this week as part of an Asia tour.
The US Department of State said that it was “deeply disappointed” by the North’s decision to rescind — without explanation — its invitation to Robert King, the US special envoy for North Korean human rights issues.
Photo: AFP
King had hoped to secure the release of Kenneth Bae, who was arrested in November 2012 and later sentenced to 15 years’ hard labor on charges of seeking to topple the North Korean government.
Bae, a tour operator, was described by a North Korean court as a militant Christian evangelist.
It is the second time King has been rebuffed. North Korea previously scrapped an invite at the last minute for him to discuss Bae’s case at the end of August last year.
Bae, 45, began serving his sentence in May last year and was admitted to hospital in August with kidney and liver problems.
He was returned to the labor camp last month, and his family and US officials have voiced deep concerns over his health.
The rescinding of King’s invitation came ahead of annual South Korea-US military drills, which Pyongyang has urged Seoul to cancel.
The allies’ Combined Forces Command (CFC) said yesterday that the “Key Resolve” and “Foal Eagle” exercises would run from Feb. 24 to April 18.
A combined total of 12,700 US forces will participate in the two drills, the CFC said, adding that North Korea had been informed of the dates and the “non-provocative” nature of the maneuvers.
North Korea, which views the annual drills as rehearsals for invasion, has already warned the South of an “unimaginable holocaust” if they go ahead.
Bae’s family fear he has become a pawn in the row — a concern referenced by US Department of State spokeswoman Jen Psaki who indicated that North Korea should stick by a promise it made last year not to use Bae as a “political bargaining chip.”
Psaki also stressed that Bae’s case should “in no way” be linked to the holding of the annual drills.
“We remind [North Korea] that the US-ROK military exercises are transparent, regularly scheduled and defense-oriented,” she said.
The start of the drills will overlap with a reunion for families separated by the 1950 to 1953 Korean War that is scheduled to be held from Feb. 20 to Feb. 25 at the North’s Mount Kumgang resort.
Seoul and Pyongyang reached an agreement on the reunion on Wednesday last week, but only a day later, the North threatened to pull out, citing US bomber sorties and “slanderous” reports in the South Korean press.
South Korean President Park Geun-hye has urged Pyongyang to honor the agreement for the sake of the family members, many of whom are in advanced old age and frail health.
North Korea had cancelled a reunion event in September last year at the last minute and many expect it will use the joint military exercises as an excuse to do the same this time around.
“Key Resolve” lasts about 10 days and is a largely computer-simulated exercise, while the eight-week “Foal Eagle” drill involves air, ground and naval field training.
Last year’s drills fueled an unusually sharp and protracted surge in military tensions, with Pyongyang threatening a pre-emptive nuclear strike, and nuclear capable US stealth bombers making dummy runs over the Korean peninsula.
South Korea has warned that the North might be planning a provocation during the upcoming exercises.
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