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SEOUL - South Korea will not join a US plan to intercept North Korean ships suspected of carrying arms cargo out of fear of raising tensions with its neighbour, officials said yesterday.
South Korea officials have said interdicting North Korean ships could lead to military clashes between the two countries that are technically still at war.
Seoul has reviewed whether to expand its participation in the so-called Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) since Pyongyang's October 9 nuclear test.
"We are not formally joining PSI in terms of form or process," foreign ministry official Park In-kook told reporters.
"We support the goal and principles of the plan, but because of the special circumstances we are in, we are here declaring that we are not formally joining."
Launched by US President George W. Bush in 2003, the PSI aims to guard against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, including through military interdiction.
The PSI is a voluntary programme not based on any international treaty. Instead, it draws on political decisions and domestic laws of participating countries.
Park was speaking about measures South Korea was taking to implement a UN Security Council resolution adopted after the North's nuclear test, which included stepped-up inspections of cargo moving to the North by land and sea.
The Security Council banned trade of goods and transfer of funds to the North that could aid the North's arms programmes.
Washington has been pressing Seoul and other governments to take a tough stand towards Pyongyang. However, South Korea, which fears instability in its heavily armed neighbour to the North, has remained committed to engaging Pyongyang.
"The (South Korean) government considers peace and prosperity on the Korean peninsula and reconciliation with the North higher priorities than resolving the nuclear standoff," the prestigious International Crisis Group said in a report on Monday .
South Korea has said it would not pull the plug on two projects - a mountain resort and a factory park - run by South Korean companies in North Korea that have been criticised for providing cold cash to the North's leaders.
Unification Ministry official Lee Kwan-se told the same briefing South Korea has already taken stern measures with the North by suspending regular food aid and other planned projects after North Korea test-fired missiles in July.
"These are stronger than measures taken by any other country," Lee said.
However, Seoul has indicated it may resume the food aid due to Pyongyang's decision to return to stalled six-country talks on its nuclear weapons programme.
Park and Lee also said South Korea has a bilateral maritime agreement with North Korea that allows for the inspection of ships sailing between the ports of the two Koreas.
Opposition lawmakers have said no inspections have been conducted since the agreement was signed in 2004.
- REUTERS
