Date: Monday, November 6, 2023
Time: 10:30-10:35 A.M.

 

1. Minister’s Schedule

At 2 P.M. today, Unification Minister Kim Yung Ho will meet with Korean beat journalists covering the Unification Ministry’s affairs on the occasion of his 100th days since he assumed office.

On November 7 and 8, at 10 A.M., Minister Kim will attend the Special Committee on Budget & Accounts for non-economic ministries to examine next year’s budget bills. Minister Kim will deliver congratulatory video remarks at the 4th International Academic Forum: Sustainable Development of Indigenous Languages on November 7 at 10 A.M.

On November 9, at 9 A.M., Minister Kim will attend the inquiry session on policy of the National Assembly’s Special Committee on Budget & Accounts. The Minister’s congratulatory remarks at the 2023 Indo-Pacific Vision Forum will be delivered by the Deputy Minister for Unification Policy. Minister Kim will attend a plenary session of the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs & Unification Committee at 10 A.M.

On November 10, Minister Kim will attend the cabinet meeting at 8 A.M., and the inquiry session on policy of the National Assembly’s Special Committee on Budget & Accounts at 10 A.M. Due to these schedules, his congratulatory remarks at a seminar of the Korean War Abductees’ Family Union will be delivered by Vice Minister Moon Seoung-hyun at 1:30 P.M.

 

2. Q&A

Q) Have there been any specific discussions or plans with the United Nations Command regarding the resumption of Panmunjeom tours? When does the Ministry expect the tours to resume?

A) As you may be aware, the US soldier crossed into North Korea on July 18, and the United Nations Command has temporarily suspended Panmunjeom tours until further notice.

We will discuss the necessary measures with the United Nations Command and other relevant organizations regarding the resumption of Panmunjeom tours. However, the exact timing is difficult to predict at this stage.

Q) How does the Unification Ministry analyze the significance of North Korea instituting the “Day of the Missile Industry?”

A) As you may have seen in the media, North Korea designated November 18 as the Day of the Missile Industry at a session of the Permanent Commission of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People’s Assembly.

For reference, in 2021, North Korea marked November 29 as “Rocket Industry Day,” however there were no special events and it disappeared the following year without any explanation. Therefore, we do not assume North Korea's intentions regarding the Day of the Missile Industry and will keep an eye on related developments in the future.

However, it is deeply disappointing and deplorable that North Korea is commemorating actions that have threatened the Republic of Korea and the international community which clearly violate international norms, including UN Security Council resolutions prohibiting the development of ballistic missiles.

Q) Just to follow up on the previous questions, Kim Jong Un’s daughter accompanied him on an ICBM test launch last year. Do you consider that the creation of the Day of the Missile Industry could signal North Korea’s fourth generation succession?

A) There could be a number of possible intentions of North Korea, however, we will not make any assumptions and continue monitoring relevant activities.