South Korea is backtracking on possibly removing sanctions against North Korea.
On Wednesday South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha told lawmakers the country would be "flexible" in reviewing sanctions put in place after an attack on a naval ship in 2010 that killed 46 South Korean sailors. North Korea is the prime suspect, but has denied the accusations.
South Korea banned the North from using its shipping lanes and ended most of its joint economic projects between the two countries.
Kang's proposal was met with disapproval from conservatives in the country as well as U.S. President Donald Trump.
Trump responded saying, “They won’t do it without our approval. They do nothing without our approval.” He's put a hard line stance on U.S. allies maintaining "maximum pressure" against North Korea until it denuclearizes.
On Thursday South Korea's unification minister clarified Kang's comments saying North Korea would need to take responsibility for the sinking of the naval ship before the South considered lifting sanctions.
