Seoul Court Orders Pyongyang to Pay $32.5M for Destroying Liaison Office

Was this an illegal act deserving a fine or a justified response to insults against a sovereign state?

Published 2 days ago

Seoul Court Orders Pyongyang to Pay $32.5M for Destroying Liaison Office

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Above: The opening ceremony for the inter-Korean liaison office in Kaesong, North Korea, on Sept. 14, 2018. Image credit: KOREA POOL/AFP/Getty Images

The Spin

Anti-North Korea narrative

North Korea's destruction of the liaison office was flat-out illegal, and the court was right to put a 44.6 billion won price tag on that destruction. Keeping the door open for dialogue is fine, but handing over medical aid, tourism and rail projects while excusing unilateral demolition will only invite the next betrayal. South Korea must ensure accountability and institutional safeguards come first.

Yonhap News Agency Segye

Pro-North Korea narrative

The liaison office was built to serve honest discussion after the Panmunjom summit, and it was reduced to a useless shell by authorities in the South who allowed ruffians to insult the dignity of a sovereign state and offered no remorse. Tearing it down was a justified response to that provocation, not a crime to be priced out in won. Those who shelter such criminals should expect to pay for it.

KCNA Watch DPRKnotes