Date: Monday, May 12, 2025
Time: 10:30-10:33 A.M.

1. Minister’s Schedule

Minister Kim Yung Ho will attend the cabinet meeting on May 13 at 10 A.M.

At 11:00 A.M., Minister Kim will sit down for a meeting with principals of educational institutions for North Korean defector youth on the occasion of Teacher’s Day.

At 3:30 P.M., Minister Kim will preside over a virtual meeting with chairpersons of the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance, UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, and the United Kingdom All-Party Parliamentary Group on North Korea.

On May 14, at 11:30 A.M., Minister Kim will sit down for a meeting with North Korean defectors that have been newly appointed as public officials to offer words of encouragement.

2. Vice Minister’s Schedule

Vice Minister Kim Soo Kyung will attend the vice ministers’ conference on May 15 at 9 A.M.

On May 17, at 1:30 P.M., Vice Minister Kim will deliver remarks at the 5th anniversary ceremony of the Inter-Korean Cultural Integration Center.

3. Q&A

Q. China and Russia issued a joint statement ahead of Victory Day celebrations, calling for an end to sanctions and pressure on North Korea. What is the Unification Ministry’s position on this?

A. Denuclearization of the North is a consensus shared by the international community. I would like to reiterate that China and Russia, as permanent members of the UN Security Council, have greater responsibility for upholding international peace and adhering to international norms.

Q. Does the Ministry have an overall assessment regarding Russia’s Victory Day celebrations?

A. A press backgrounder was released last Friday, which outlines several key features. The Ministry has no additional comments to provide beyond those previously provided.