NIGERIAN EMBASSY STAFF TO REMAIN IN SOUTH KOREA DESPITE TENSIONS

Despite increasingly threatening rhetoric from North Korea hinting at possible attack of South Korea, the federal government has indicated that it does not intend to evacuate workers at the Nigerian embassy in Seoul, the South Korean capital.

Following heightened tensions in the region, North Korea had asked countries to withdraw their diplomatic staff from the region as it cannot guarantee their safety in the break out of war. 

A top Nigerian official who asked not to be named downplayed North Korea's threat of a military strike against South Korea, noting that the former is engaged in what he calls "brinksmanship". 

In diplomacy, this is a policy of deliberating pushing a dangerous situation to the brink of disaster - mostly within limits of safety - by heightening tensions, threatening war and attack all in a bid to extract concessions which are usually economic.

“They cannot do anything; this is their usual pattern,” the official said.

North Korea in the past month has stepped up its war rhetoric after the United Nations  imposed fresh sanctions for a third nuclear test in February. The US has also increased its military drills with South Korea.

Meanwhile, the US Secretary of State John Kerry Friday said an anticipated fresh missile launch by North Korea would be a "provocative act" and "huge mistake".
The North has moved two missiles to its east coast and South Korea is on alert.

Speaking in Seoul, Kerry reconfirmed the US's commitment to protecting itself and its allies.

But he played down a US report that the North has a nuclear warhead, saying it was "inaccurate to suggest it has a working and tested" device.

Later, White House spokesman Jay Carney said Pyongyang had "not demonstrated the capability to deploy a nuclear-armed missile."

A declassified section of a report from the U.S Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) report had warned there was "moderate" confidence that Pyongyang had developed the technology to mount a nuclear warhead on a missile.

North Korea has increased its warlike rhetoric following fresh UN sanctions imposed after its third nuclear test in February and joint military manoeuvres by the US and South Korea.

The North has said it will restart a mothballed nuclear reactor, has shut an emergency military hotline to the South and has urged countries to withdraw diplomatic staff, saying it cannot now guarantee their safety.

On 15 April, North Korea will mark the birth of national founder Kim Il-sung, a date which could be used for a missile launch.

North Korean TV has been showing preparations for the birthday celebrations, which include displays of "Kimilsungia" flowers, parades, and models of missiles.

In a joint news conference with his South Korea counterpart, Kerry said that if Northern leader Kim Jong-un decided to go ahead with a launch it would be "a provocative and unwanted act that will raise people's temperature".

"It is a huge mistake for him to choose to do that because it will further isolate his people who are desperate for food not missile launches, who are desperate for opportunity not for a leader who wants to flex his muscles in this manner," he said.

"Kim Jong-un needs to understand - and I think he probably does - what the outcome of a conflict would be," he added.
Kerry said that in his talks with South Korean President Park Geun-hye she had made clear her "bright vision" of a peaceful Korean peninsula free of nuclear weapons

Source: Thisday