N. Korea has 'no intention' to meet US during Olympics
February 8, 2018
North Korea's state news agency has quoted a foreign ministry official dismissing the possibility of any meeting. US Vice President Mike Pence is set to attend the opening ceremony with the North's head of state.
Image: AP
Advertisement
North Korea has no intention of meeting US officials during the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in South Korea starting Friday, a senior North Korean official said Thursday.
The announcement comes a day after US Vice President Mike Pence suggested he would be open to a meeting with North Korean officials during the event's opening ceremony.
What North Korea said
Official KCNA news agency cited Cho Yong Sam, a senior foreign ministry official, as saying: "We hereby make this clear. We have no intention whatsoever to meet US authorities during our visit to the South."
Sam said that Pyongyang's presence at the Games was not diplomatic, but rather to celebrate the event.
The North, he added, would not change its view in the future: "[We] never begged for dialogue with the United States and it will be the same going forward."
Koreas agree joint hockey team
01:47
This browser does not support the video element.
Why the North said this now:North Korea's ceremonial head of state, Kim Yong Nam, and Pence are set to be at the Pyeongchang opening ceremony on Friday. Pence raised the possibility of a meeting when he said on a flight to Tokyo that he had "not requested a meeting" with North Korean officials, yet added, "but we'll see what happens."
Tense 'Peace Olympics': This year's event has been billed the "Peace Olympics" after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un agreed to send a delegation to Pyeongchang. But tensions between the North and the US, a South Korean ally, sparked by the Pyongyang's recent ballistic missile and nuclear weapons tests have cast a long shadow over the Games. Pence announced on Wednesday the US would seek to pass new sanctions against the isolated country.
Guns, gold and gas: What UN sanctions target North Korea?
International observers say North Korea continues to flout bans on its pursuit of a nuclear weapons program. The UN Security Council has increased sanctions on the country.
Image: Reuters/S. Sagolj
Coal and iron
In August 2017, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution banning all coal, iron, iron ore and lead imports from North Korea. Pictured here is China's Liaoning Greenland Energy Coal Co. in Dandong, on the border with North Korea.
Image: Reuters/B. Goh
Currency
North Korea is prohibited from opening banks abroad, and UN member states are prohibited from operating financial institutions on Pyongyang's behalf. Any dealings that might help North Korea skirt the sanctions are banned, and UN member states must expel and repatriate anyone working on the regime's financial behalf.
Image: Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images
Shipping
This North Korean cargo ship found itself boarded for inspection in the Philippines in March 2016 after the United Nations ordered member nations to de-register any vessel owned, operated or crewed on orders from Pyongyang. North Korean ships also cannot fly the flags of other nations to evade sanctions.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/J. Dumaguing
Air travel
Air Koryo, North Korea's national carrier, remains exempt from aviation sanctions and still has scheduled flights to China and Russia, as well as several domestic routes. However, the airline cannot fly to the European Union, which has banned it on safety grounds, and the United States prevents citizens from legally conducting business with the carrier.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/Yonhap
Fuel
In December 2017, a new raft of UN sanctions targeted fuel imports in North Korea, meaning its residents could have difficulties driving the country in Pyeonghwa sedans (pictured above). The sale and transfer of diesel and kerosene are limited while the import of crude oil is capped at 4 million barrels a year.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/M. Ralston
Bank accounts, real estate
UN sanctions limit North Korea's diplomats abroad — at the country's Berlin embassy, for example — to only one bank account each. North Korea is also not permitted to own real estate abroad for any purposes other than consular.
Image: picture alliance/dpa/S.Schaubitzer
Military training
It's a safe bet that North Korea's marching military did not learn its moves abroad: UN sanctions ban foreign security forces from training the country's army, police or paramilitary units. The United Nations does permit medical exchanges, but otherwise allow very little assistance of scientific or technical value.
Image: Reuters/S. Sagolj
Statues
Anyone wanting to own a larger-than-life Kim will have to await the end of North Korea's nuclear program. The UN sanctions currently ban the sale of statues by the nation.
