NUNZIUM

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol proposed, in his first Liberation Day speech marking the 77th anniversary of the end of Japanese colonial rule over the Korean Peninsula, that Seoul offer economic aid to Pyongyang in exchange for the North taking steps toward denuclearization. This was referred to as an “audacious initiative”. Unfortunately this attempt added to an already long list of failed negotiations - with a very short notice. The sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has rejected the proposal saying that Yoon's plan is “the height of absurdity" as it is unpractical. She added that Yoon should “shout his mouth” and that “although he may knock on the door with a large plan in the future, his 'bold plan' does not work. We make it clear that we will not sit face to face with him”. South Korea's Unification Minister Kwon Young-se has expressed regret over the reaction and added that her criticism is a disservice to North Korea as well as peace on the Korean Peninsula.