Date: Monday, July 18, 2022
Time: 10:30-10:38 A.M.

 

1. Unification Ministry to establish its work plan

 

The Ministry is scheduled to report its work plan to the President this Thursday, July 21.

 

2. Q&A

 

Q. Yesterday, the Unification Ministry announced that it is looking into legal issues regarding its employee’s filming the video when the North Koreans were sent to the North through Panmunjeom. I was wondering if it would be a violation of the rules to personally take a video?

 

A. The Ministry is reviewing all legal implications related to the video filming, and we will let you know including your inquiries when the result comes out.

 

Q. Could you specify the length and content of the video? Also what would be the main area to be focused when looking into legal issues, and when would this all be finished?

 

A. Regarding the video, it is difficult for us to explain the video-related questions until the legal review is completed. The Ministry will explain the results as soon as the results are available.

 

Q. What part of the legal issue is the Ministry mainly reviewing?

 

A. The filming of the video and its data are requested by the National Assembly. Thereby, we are reviewing all legal issues related to the video, including its disclosure.

 

Q. Could you explain the reason the employee filmed the video and if he or she agreed to the release of the video.
The Ministry released 10 photos of the repatriation of North Koreans. In what ways do you see the release of the video is necessary apart from the release of the photos?

 

A. Currently, the Ministry has not made a decision whether to submit the video to the National Assembly. As the legal review is finished, we will be able to answer your questions regarding the details of the video.

 

Q. When was the Ministry informed about the video footage?

 

A. On July 12, the Ministry submitted the photos to the National Assembly, and in the photos a few people seemed to be video-recording the scene. Several members of the National Assembly have requested the Ministry to check and submit the video. From the process, the Ministry were informed that one of its employees had filmed the video.

 

Q. Could you specify if there are any cases that North Korean defectors who entered the Republic of Korea after committing a felony in North Korea or China were tried in the South’s judical system and sentenced to prison, and if so, how many?
In addition, is there a separate support system within the Unification Ministry for North Korean defectors who are classified to be non-protected for felony crimes? So was there a case where the Korea Hana Foundation had to provide separate support for these people?

 

A. Let me check the relevant information and let you know as I do not have the data at this moment.

 

Q. Can you tell us which division the employee is affiliated to?

 

A. The Ministry will have an opportunity to explain the details fully once we are done with the legal review. At this point, I can only mention that this person is an employee of the Unification Ministry.

 

Q. Over the weekend, North Korean media mentioned that the South would have to pay the price for the flyers sent from South Korea. What is the Ministry’s take on this?

 

A. The Ministry is paying close attention to the recent criticism by the North’s propaganda media. However, since the Ministry has consistently maintained a stance that it does not comment on the North’s individual reports, we do not offer direct comments.