On February 10, Unification Minister Kim Yung Ho attended the 40th Manghyang Memorial Festival to hold a joint memorial service with separated families and discuss the issue of separated families with separated families and heads of organizations for displaced people.

* The Manghyang Gyeongmo Festival is an event held every year at the Imjingak Mangbaedan to comfort the pain and resentment of displaced people and separated families who cannot go home during the holidays by holding a joint memorial service table.

Minister Kim noted that the issue of separated families is a matter of moral laws and humanity that must be resolved regardless of political or military circumstances.

Furthermore, Minister Kim pointed out North Korea’s recent behavior, including declaring South Korea its main enemy and persisting on provocations since the beginning of the year. He strongly urged for an immediate cessation of provocations that threaten the survival of the Korean people and not to turn a blind eye to the pain of separated families.

Moreover, Minister Kim said that the South Korean government will not give up and will move forward to fundamentally resolve the issues of separated families, prisoners of war, abductees, and detainees without being swayed by any provocations and actions by the North. He added as the first step in resolving humanitarian issues between the two Koreas, North Korea should restore and normalize the liaison channel unilaterally blocked by the North in April last year.