Seoul's support may breach international sanctions

By Choi Ha-young

South Korea's pledge to support a North Korean delegation likely to participate in the PyeongChang Winter Olympics has drawn controversy over its possible breach of international sanctions against the nuclear-armed country.

After North Korean leader Kim Jong-un announced the country's willingness to send a delegation to the event, the South Korean government said it would support the visit. And the support may include a financial incentive, such as providing accommodation, transport and other services.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) earlier said it could share the cost of North Koreans' stay if the country participated in the Olympics, but its support may be limited to athletes, not to political figures or other members of the delegation who are non-athletes.

Asked about the cost, unification ministry spokesman Baik Tae-hyun said nothing had been confirmed.

"The IOC said it would share the cost, so it's too early to say how much we will spend," he said Friday.

Choi Moon-soon, governor of Gangwon Province where the Olympics will be held in February, said earlier he was willing to send a cruise ship to North Korea, so the delegation could travel on it to the South and stay aboard at a Gangwon port.

However, sanctions imposed by Seoul, Washington and Tokyo prevent ships departing North Korean ports from entering their territories. The Ministry of Unification also dismissed the governor's offer.

"Some local government bodies' comments on the PyeongChang Games are groundless and incorrect," Baik said at a regular briefing, Friday. "The government respects inter-Korean exchanges through local bodies, but this should be well ordered."

The North's state airline, Air Koryo, is also under sanctions imposed by the U.S. and South Korea.

"The only possible route for a North Korean team is overland route," said Go Myong-hyun, a research fellow at the Asan Institute.

Even if Seoul provides help for North Korea athletes, it will be in format of commodities such as hotel rooms, flight tickets or sports facilities for individual players ― not in cash.

"I don't think North Korea will ask for cash in exchange for Olympics participation, because its leader Kim ordered the participation in public," said Cho Han-bum, senior researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification.

"If the North Koreans are really determined to come to the sporting event, I think South Korea needs to ask for U.S. and the international society's understanding about various types of support."

"Some support may not be in line with the international sanctions. But the application of sanctions could be flexible in terms of humanitarian aid, with permission from the U.S. and the IOC," Cho noted.

Despite sanctions, humanitarian aid for North Korea is still open, and the South Korean government has the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund committed to facilitating inter-Korean exchanges.

"The government should spend the money from the fund in accordance with public opinion, not to cause a dissonance with international society," Baik said. "The government will prepare the event in accordance with the international sanctions, to avoid controversy regarding a possible breach."

Also, some ranking North Korean officials are blacklisted by the South Korean government for their alleged financial involvement in helping the North's arms development.

After the North's fifth nuclear test in 2016, Seoul blacklisted 36 ranking North Korean officials including Hwang Pyong-so and Choe Ryong-hae, who are expected to lead the delegation.

But Go said such officials' visit to the South could be allowed.

"It would be possible if they come to the South as diplomats," he said. "Seoul's sanctions prohibit their financial activity and business for profit, rather than their travel as government officials."