Date: Monday, September 25, 2023
Time: 10:30-10:34 A.M.

1. Minister’s Schedule

From 10 A.M. today, Unification Minister Kim Yung Ho is attending the cabinet meeting. At 4:30 P.M., Minister Kim will attend a volunteer event on the occasion of Chuseok with North Korean defectors to deliver food for the elderly living alone.

On September 26, at 2 P.M., Minister Kim will visit separated family members and send words of condolences, and at 4 P.M., he will attend the 4th meeting of the Bid Committee for World Expo 2030 Busan, held at the Korea Trade Insurance Corporation.

On September 27, at 11 A.M., Minister Kim will attend an event to commemorate the first Day of Separated Families and deliver remarks at the Plaza Hotel. This event is the first commemoration since the Day of Separated Families has been designated as a national holiday, and various cultural events will be held at Gwanghwamun Square from 1 P.M. to 6 P.M.

2. Vice Minister’s Schedule

Vice Minister Moon Seoung-hyun will visit the Seoul Raphayel’s House, a welfare facility for people with disabilities, to deliver supplies and offer words of consolation and encouragement ahead of Chuseok at 4 P.M. today.

On September 27, Vice Minister Moon will visit Gwanghwamun Square where cultural events for the Day of Separated Families will be held, and deliver remarks to welcome participants.

3. Q&A

Q) As North Korea has made fewer harsh criticism against the South recently, what is the Unification Ministry’s take on such remarks towards President Yoon as reported by the KCNA today?

A) The fact that North Korea mobilized an unidentified individual to make unreasonable accusations against the president of a country demonstrates the vulgarity of the North Korean regime, which lacks even basic courtesy and common sense, and such remarks are not worth commenting on.

Q) As North Korea appears to give the impression that its harvest has improved this year, how does the Ministry assess the food situation in North Korea?

A) As it is the beginning of the fall harvest season, we understand that the North’s harvest is at a similar level to previous years based on various circumstances. We will continue to monitor the food situation in North Korea together with relevant agencies.