Date: Monday, October 7, 2024
Time: 10:30-10:36 A.M.

 

1. Minister’s Schedule

Minister Kim Yung Ho will sit down for a meeting with Carl Gershman, former President of the National Endowment for Democracy, today at 2:30 P.M.

On October 8, at 10 A.M., Minister Kim will attend this year’s inspection of state administration for the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee.

On October 10, at 7:30 A.M., Minister Kim will attend a meeting of the policy advisory council on inter-Korean relations management.

At 10 A.M., Minister Kim will deliver congratulatory video remarks at the 5th International Academic Forum hosted by UNESCO and Gyeoremal-Keunsajeon (Grand Dictionary of the National Language).

On October 11, at 11:30 A.M., Minister Kim will deliver a special lecture at a forum hosted by the Sejong Institute.

 

2. Vice Minister’s Schedule

Vice Minister Kim Soo Kyung will attend the this year’s inspection of state administration for the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee on October 8 at 10 A.M.

On October 10, at 8:30 A.M., Vice Minister Kim will attend the cabinet meeting.

At 10:30 A.M., Vice Minister Kim will deliver remarks at a roundtable meeting with female Ambassadors to the ROK in celebration of the International Day of the Girl Child.

At 2 P.M., Vice Minister Kim will sit down for a meeting with Beth Van Schaack, Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice.

At 3 P.M., Vice Minister Kim will deliver congratulatory remarks at a seminar hosted by the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council.

 

3. Q&A

Q. North Korea stated that it will be holding its Supreme People’s Assembly starting today. When do you expect the results to be released based on past cases?

A. The North announced that it will convene a session of the Supreme People’s Assembly today. Looking into past records, the North has at times held one-day meetings in which the results were disclosed either on the day of or the day after through Rodong Sinmun. There were also times when the session was held over two days, with the results reported the following day.
It is difficult to foresee the duration of the session. We will have to wait and see.

Q. The North is expected to remove unification from its constitution and establish a new clause regarding territory. Though the results have not yet been revealed, can the Unification Ministry provide an outlook?
Also, the Presidential Office said that it has reported and approved necessary measures yesterday as North Korea’s constitutional revision is expected. It added that necessary measures will be taken depending on the North’s actions. Has the Unification Ministry prepared anything in line with such efforts?

A. Considering the North’s announcements and reports, the Supreme People’s Assembly is expected to revise constitution and follow up on measures concerning the “hostile relationship between the two countries.” Notwithstanding, the Ministry will monitor the situation without making any assumptions.
Additionally, as the outcome of the North’s Supreme People’s Assembly session has not yet been announced, the Ministry is closely watching related developments without specifying possible response measures.

Q. The North Korean Foreign Ministry decried NATO’s condemnation of its military cooperation with Russia. Does the Unification Ministry have a stance on this?

A. North Korea’s accelerating military cooperation with Russia in violation of international norms is a widely known fact. It is doubtful that North Korea is qualified to pose such criticism.

Q. In July, the Pentagon predicted that North Korea may dispatch workers or an army engineer unit to Donetsk. Over the weekend, Ukrainian media reported that six North Korean soldiers were killed near the Donetsk region. Does the Unification Ministry have a position on this matter? Also, does the Ministry have information that can confirm whether these six North Korean soldiers were part of the engineer unit?

A. There is nothing the Unification Ministry can confirm regarding such reports at this time. We will keep an eye on the situation together with relevant agencies. The ROK Government has repeatedly expressed deep concern over military cooperation between Russia and North Korea.