South Korea Startled By North Korea Withdrawing Staff from Liaison Office

North Korea has put Seoul on the edge by withdrawing its staff from a liaison office with South Korea. And this will most likely further complicate global diplomacy on te former's nuclear program.

Choe Son Hui, North Korea's Vice Foreign Minister, had a week ago threatened to pull out a nuclear negotiations with the United States. Hui had cited US hadn't done much to match the disarmament measures. Last Friday, she had said her country had no intention of compromising or continuing nuclear talks unless the US took steps to commensurate with those the North had taken. South Korean officials had been informed of the decision to withdraw during a meeting at the liaison office in Kaesong, a North Korean border town. Seoul has called this decision regrettable and urged its counterpart to return its staff soon. The withdrawal is a major setback for South Korean President Moon Jae-in who was looking forward to improved relations with North Korea, alongside the nuclear negotiations between the North and the US.

Moon said inter-Korean reconciliation was crucial for achieving progress in nuclear negotiations. However, a difficult environment had been created at last month's summit between the US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kin Jong-un. And on top of this, the North Korean state media demanded South Korea to distance itself from the US and to resume joint economic projects.