Date: Monday, July 17, 2023
Time: 10:30-10:35 A.M.

1. Minister’s Schedule

On July 18, Unification Minister Kwon Youngse will attend the cabinet meeting at 10 A.M.

2. Vice Minister’s Schedule

On July 20, Vice Minister Moon Seoung-hyun will attend the vice minister’s conference at 10 A.M., and attend a course completion ceremony held at the National Institute for Unification Education to deliver congratulatory remarks at 6:30 P.M.

3. Q&A

Q) Could you confirm the number of North Korean defectors that entered South Korea for the first half of this year?

A) We have not received the total numbers yet, but will let you know soon.

Q) Given that it has been raining a lot in North Korea, have you gotten any statistics on the damage?

A) Through its recent media reports on downpour and rain forecasts, North Korea has emphasized minimizing damage during the rainy season. Today's report of the Rodong Sinmun and the KCNA also indicated that premier Kim Tok Hun visited several regions, including South Hwanghae province and Nampo, to take measures to protect crops. However, not much specific details are revealed on the damage by rainfalls in North Korea.

On June 30, the Government officially requested that the North notify prior to the release of water to prevent flooding in the inter-Korean border area during the rainy season.
I would like to take this opportunity to once again urge the North to take sincere measures to prevent any possible damages caused by the North’s unannounced releases.

Meanwhile, the Government is closely monitoring precipitation near the border and making every effort to cooperate with relevant agencies to prevent flood damage.

Q) You requested again for a prior notice when discharging water. Could you clarify which dams you meant, for example whether it is only the Hwanggang Dam on the Imjin River, or it includes the Bukhan River?

A) In general, we understand that it is an international norm to notify discharges for dams in the shared rivers. However, we are paying a little more attention to the Hwanggang Dam, where a fatal accident occurred in 2009.