Blew it up – and now you pay: The huge bill awaiting Kim Jong Un

A South Korean court has ruled that North Korea must pay 44.6 billion won (about $32.5 million) for blowing up the joint liaison office in Kaesong in 2020. The ruling is largely symbolic, as there is no way to enforce payment on Pyongyang, which has declared the South its sworn enemy. Liberal President Lee Jae-myung calls for renewed diplomacy, but Kim Jong Un remains unresponsive.

The Central District Court in Seoul ruled on Wednesday that North Korea must pay South Korea 44.6 billion won (approximately $32.5 million) for the destruction of the joint liaison office between the two countries in 2020. The ruling is largely symbolic, as South Korea has no means to enforce the payment on Pyongyang, especially given the complete diplomatic freeze. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has suspended all meaningful diplomacy with the South, declaring it his bitterest enemy, while advancing his nuclear weapons program and strengthening ties with Moscow and Beijing. South Korea's Unification Ministry stated it respects the ruling and called for a resumption of diplomacy. The current liberal president, Lee Jae-myung, has adopted a more moderate tone, but North Korea ignores his appeals. The liaison office was blown up in June 2020 after North Korea criticized Seoul for failing to stop defectors from flying propaganda balloons. The explosion was seen as a calculated display of anger amid stalled nuclear talks. Kim has accelerated the expansion of his nuclear arsenal and sent thousands of troops to support Russia in Ukraine. U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed interest in resuming diplomacy, but Kim's government has rejected his overtures.