US State Department Urges North Korea to Refrain from Further Unproductive Actions... Fully Supports South Korea's Efforts

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The U.S. government has urged restraint in response to North Korea's hardline actions, including the demolition of the Kaesong Inter-Korean Liaison Office.

On the 16th (local time), according to Voice of America (VOA) and others, a spokesperson from the U.S. State Department said, "The United States fully supports South Korea's efforts regarding inter-Korean relations," and "urges North Korea to refrain from further unproductive actions."

This reaction from the State Department is interpreted as a warning against further provocations by North Korea while supporting the South Korean government's efforts. Above all, it is unusual for the U.S. government to express full support for the South Korean government's steps to maintain inter-Korean relations.

A senior U.S. administration official also emphasized on the same day, "We are aware that North Korea destroyed the Kaesong Liaison Office," and "we are maintaining close coordination with our ally, South Korea."

The Kaesong Inter-Korean Liaison Office opened with symbolic significance as the first '24 hours, 365 days' consultation channel in the history of inter-Korean relations. The inter-Korean leaders agreed in the 'Panmunjom Declaration' to "establish an Inter-Korean Liaison Office in the Kaesong area where officials from both sides will be stationed to closely consult between authorities and smoothly guarantee civilian exchanges and cooperation."

The government renovated a building previously used as the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Consultation Office within the Kaesong Industrial Complex, spending a total of 9.78 billion KRW, including 3.49 billion KRW for materials, and began using it as the liaison office from September of that year. Although there were twists and turns such as controversies over sanctions violations during the preparation process, the opening ceremony was successfully held on September 14 last year, attended by then Minister of Unification Cho Myoung-gyon and North Korean Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland Chairman Ri Son-gwon.

The liaison office building was a renovated four-story building formerly used as the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Consultation Office within the Kaesong Industrial Complex. South Korean personnel were stationed on the second floor, and North Korean personnel on the fourth floor, working face-to-face on a daily basis. Shortly after opening, various inter-Korean talks and working-level meetings in fields such as forestry cooperation, sports, healthcare cooperation, and communications were often held at the liaison office. The government has praised the liaison office as a representative achievement of inter-Korean relations.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.