Date: Monday, July 3, 2023
Time: 10:30-10:35 A.M.

 

1. Minister’s Schedule

On July 5, Unification Minister Kwon Youngse will attend and deliver welcome remarks at a forum at 9:30 A.M., organized by the Unification Ministry, the Export-Import Bank of Korea, and the Institute for Peace and Unification Studies.

On the same day at 1:30 P.M., Minister Kwon will visit flood prevention facilities near the Imjin River including the Pilseung Bridge and the Gunnam Dam and provide words of encouragement to those who work in flood control during the rainy season.

Considering that inter-Korean communication channels have been shut down, the Ministry urged North Korea through media last Friday to notify the South in advance before discharging water in order to prevent flood damage near the Imjin River.

 

2. Vice Minister’s Schedule

Newly appointed Vice Minister Moon Seoung-hyun will attend the inauguration ceremony at 3 P.M. today.

 

3. Q&A

Q) Yesterday, President Yoon mentioned that the Unification Ministry had focused too much on providing aid for North Korea in the past and needed to change. What do you think of the role of the Ministry in the future?

A) As the President emphasized, we will continue to pursue unification policies based on the Constitution and the basic free and democratic order, while making further efforts to promote North Korea’s denuclearization in accordance with the Audacious Initiatives and North Korean human rights.

Q) Has the Ministry made specific plans in terms of what President Yoon asked for?

A) I understand that the President meant that we should more faithfully establish and promote unification policies in accordance with the Constitution and the basic free and democratic order. The Ministry will continue to review specific implementation measures.

Q) As Professor Kim Yung-ho, who serves as the Chairman of the Unification Future Planning Committee, has been appointed as the Minister of Unification, does the Ministry have any plans for further personnel changes?

A) The Ministry is currently reviewing related matters internally, and will let you know when confirmed.

Q) There was a report today that North Korea and Japan recently made two contacts for talks in China and Singapore. What is the Ministry’s take on this?

In addition, in response to a report that Hyundai Group submitted an application to contact North Korean personnels, the North released a statement rejecting any South Korean personage’s willingness for visit. How are you going to handle the current request of Hyundai Group?

A) We have seen the reports of contact between North Korea and Japan, but at this point, we do not have any information to confirm. However, South Korea, the United States, and Japan have all consistently stated that we are open to dialogue with North Korea.

As Hyundai Asan indicated that it will withdraw the application, the Government will accept it during today.

Q) Regarding North Korea's announcement of its negative stance through its Foreign Ministry instead of an inter-Korean agency, there are some assessments that North Korea may have set inter-Korean relations as nation-to-nation relations. How does the Ministry perceive North Korea’s intentions?

A) It is quite unusual for North Korea to announce its stance on a South Korean company’s application to visit the North under the name of the Foreign Ministry. We will closely monitor relevant trends and examine North Korea’s intentions.