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S. Korea says N. Korea can’t have both ‘guns and butter,’ urges nuclear talks

June 25, 2015
Rocket launch test in North Korea (KCNA/Yonhap)

Rocket launch test in North Korea (KCNA/Yonhap)

North Korea is the only country known to have tested nuclear weapons in the 21st century and its actions are not sitting well with the rest of the world — especially with South Korea.

South Korea’s Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se urged the North to engage in nuclear talks during a public address on Thursday with the Group of Eminent Persons for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty, but the latter has been reluctant to enter any type of inter-Korean discussion on any political or social issues.

“Despite international efforts, [North Korea] is going down a misguided and anachronistic path, with arguments that it can have both guns and butter,” Yun said during his speech according to Yonhap News Agency. “North Korea is the only country to have conducted nuclear weapons tests in the 21st century.”

Yun pointed to Iran as an example from which North Korea could follow.

The Middle Eastern nation is on the verge of closing an agreement to scale back its nuclear program on the grounds that it will be relieved of certain international sanctions via the P5+1.

“Pyongyang would do well to take a lesson from the Iranian cases and return to the dialogue table,” Yun said. “Nukes bring nothing but isolation and sanctions.”