News South Korea retaliates after clash with North

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South Korea shelved plans July 3 to give North Korea rice and help launch a mobile phone service after a fallout over a naval battle June 29.

President Kim Dae Jung's government has said it remains committed to its "sunshine policy" of engaging North Korea, but Kim used uncharacteristically stern words toward Pyongyang about the weekend clash and an aide said public opinion was hardening.

Four South Korean sailors died and 19 were wounded June 29 in the clash between naval ships of South and North Korea in waters west of Seoul. Some 30 North Koreans are also thought to have died or been wounded, but this is difficult to confirm.

South Korea's Agriculture Ministry said it was unlikely to ship 300,000 tons of surplus rice to North Korea. Seoul's policy of giving rice to the North is separate from South Korea's humanitarian aid to North Korea through the U.N. World Food Program.

The Information and Communication Ministry put off planned talks with North Korea on launching a mobile phone service in Pyongyang

The U.S.-led United Nations Command in Seoul blamed North Korea for the battle and called on the North to hold talks.

韓国、北朝鮮との海上銃撃戦で報復

6月29日の銃撃戦を受け、韓国は7月3日、北朝鮮に対する余剰米の供与と携帯電話サービス開始に向けた援助を無期延期した。

Shukan ST: July 12, 2002

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