In a significant move reflecting the deteriorating relationship between North and South Korea, the North Korean parliament has voted to abolish laws related to economic cooperation with its southern neighbor.
This decision, announced by official media on Thursday, comes amid a freeze in relations between the two Koreas as Pyongyang accelerates its weapons development programs and Seoul strengthens its military cooperation with Washington and Tokyo. Economic cooperation projects between the Koreas have been on hold for years.
During a preparatory meeting for the Supreme People’s Assembly on Wednesday, officials unanimously voted to repeal the law governing economic cooperation between the Koreas, as reported by the Korean Central News Agency.
This latest resolution follows Pyongyang’s declaration last month that Seoul is its “main enemy.” North Korea has also dissolved agencies dedicated to the reunification of the Koreas and threatened to occupy its neighbor in the event of war.
Furthermore, the parliament unanimously approved a plan to abolish a special law concerning the operation of the Kumgang Mountain tourism project, once a symbol of cooperation between the Koreas. The site attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors from the South.
Tourist trips to the mountain ceased abruptly in 2008 after a North Korean soldier killed a South Korean tourist who strayed off the designated path, leading Seoul to suspend tours to the site. This recent parliamentary decision marks a further step away from the prospect of reconciliation and cooperation between North and South Korea.
February 8, 2024 – North Korea’s parliament has voted to abolish laws on economic cooperation with the South, state media reported Thursday, further deepening the rift between the two neighbors.
