EARLY EDITION 18:00 N. Korea has "no apologies" for sinking of S. Korean warship
Early Edition 18:00 South Korea offered to discuss lifting select sanctions imposed on the North,...if Pyongyang formally apologized for torpedoing the Cheonan warship... But the reclusive regime says it didn′t do it, thus no need to say sorry. Bank of Korea Governor Lee Ju-yeol said... the country′s economic growth will gain momentum... building on the low key rate, low oil prices and weakening Korean currency. Korea′s most celebrated swimmer, Park Tae-hwan, is temporarily banned from competition after failing a drug test. The ban will end in time for the 2016 Rio Olympics, but it remains unclear whether Park will be eligible to compete. Stay with us for these stories and more. It′s Tuesday March 24th here in Seoul. You′re watching Early Edition at 6. I′m Laah Hyun-kyung. And I′m Daniel Choy. Thanks for joining us. Title: N. Korea has "no apologies" for sinking of S. Korean warship It′s been nearly five years since the deadly torpedo attack on a South Korean warship. In its latest denial of involvement in the Cheonan incident, Pyongyang called on Seoul to lift sanctions for the sake of better inter-Korean ties. Hwang Sung-hee reports. North Korea says it has no apology for the sinking of South Korean warship Cheonan because... it had nothing to do with it. Nonsense and never acceptable - that′s what the North′s National Defense Commission said on Tuesday in response to Seoul′s demand for an apology as a precondition to lifting sanctions. Under the so-called May 24th measures, South Korea suspended nearly all inter-Korean economic projects following the torpedo attack five years ago. The Unification Ministry dismissed Pyongyang′s latest statement... reiterating that the sanctions will not be lifted until North Korea takes responsibility for the attack. "All this comes just two days ahead of the fifth anniversary of the tragedy that left 46 South Korean sailors dead, an incident seen as a major turning point in inter-Korean relations." In an effort to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula, Seoul repeatedly offered to discuss the possible lifting of sanctions at the negotiating table. But with the latest turn of events, experts say North Korea seems to be seeking an upperhand in inter-Korean relations. "North Korea is sending the message that it will not beg for dialogue with the South. Rather than the lifting of the May 24th measures, it appears to be after the strategic goal of a shift in Seoul′s North Korea policy." With the joint U.S.-South Korea military drills ending in April, there were hopes for renewed momentum between the two Koreas, but experts say a sudden improvement seems more like wishful thinking. Hwang Sung-hee, Arirang News. Title: S. Korean activist group postpones anti-Pyongyang leaflet campaign This latest statement out of Pyongyang comes just a day after a South Korean activist group said... it would halt anti-North Korea leaflet launches for good.... if the re
