Global Geopolitical Series: South Korea considers lifting North Korea sanctions unilaterally

The U.S. President Donald Trump has cleared that sanctions imposed by the United States and United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on North Korea will remain in place unless the hermit nation takes decisive steps towards denuclearization. While speaking at the United Nation General Assembly (UNGA), President Trump maintained his stance, North Korean envoy cleared to the UN leaders that its commitment to denuclearization remains firm but will not dismantle unless trust-worthy steps are taken by the United States; such as easing the sanctions.

To ease North Korea’s concern and to improve the ties between the two Koreas, South is considering some unilateral easing of sanctions on North Korea. South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha told lawmakers during an annual parliamentary audit of the ministry that removing some of the sanctions on the North is currently under review. Kang was responding to a question about whether the government is willing to lift the sanctions, called the May 24 Measure, imposed after the North's deadly torpedo attack on a South Korean warship, the Cheonan, in 2010. Kang indicated that the government is considering the removal of the 'May 24 Measure' largely as a symbolic step meant to help improve the Seoul-Pyongyang relations.

However, it is not clear at the moment, whether the sanctions could actually be lifted as Opposition lawmakers accused Kang of talking about ditching the 'May 24 Measure 'without a formal apology from the North for the killing of 46 sailors in the attack.