Date: Monday, March 15, 2021
Time: 10:30-10:45 A.M.
1. Minister's Schedule
Minister Lee In-young will sit down for a meeting with members of
the People Power Party including Reps. Kim Gi-hyun, Kim Seok-ki, Thae
Yong-ho and Ji Seong-ho today at 2:30 P.M.
Today’s meeting has been arranged at the request of the People Power
Party to convey their opinions on human rights issues including the
establishment of the North Korean Human Rights Foundation.
Though there have been a number of opportunities to discuss the
issue at the National Assembly such as through the Foreign Affairs
& Unification Committee, the Ministry accepted the visitation
request to show our respect toward and actively communicate with the
National Assembly.
We hope today’s meeting can serve as an opportunity to confirm our
common goal toward protecting and improving human rights in North
Korea, as well as to seek a more balanced and effective approach to
promote peace, humanitarianism and human rights.
On March 16, Minister Lee will attend the cabinet meeting at 10
A.M., followed by a plenary session of the National Assembly’s
Legislation & Judiciary Committee at 2 P.M.
An amendment to the North Korean Refugees Protection and Settlement
Support Act will be presented and deliberated at the Committee session.
2. Vice Minister’s Schedule
Vice Minister Suh Ho will deliver congratulatory remarks at the
inaugural meeting of the inter-Korean exchange and cooperation forum
of local administrative bodies on March 16 at 4 P.M.
Following the amendment to the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation
Act and its enforcement decree, the inter-Korean exchange and
cooperation policy council of local governments has gained legal
basis. In this regard, the forum has been founded to promote more
active exchange and cooperation at the local government level.
On March 18, Vice Minister Suh will attend the vice-minister’s
conference at 8 A.M.
3. Ministry to hold meeting with experts on inter-Korean
agricultural cooperation
Deputy Minister for Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation will hold
a meeting today at 3 P.M. with experts to discuss measures to promote
inter-Korean agricultural cooperation in increasing the North’s
productivity. Three specialists will attend the meeting, including
Kwon Taejin, former head of the Center for North Korean Agricultural
Research at the Korea Rural Economic Institute.
4. Q&A (partial)
Q. Was the Unification Ministry aware of the new U.S.
administration’s diplomatic outreach to the North reportedly having
taken place since mid-February? With future inter-Korean or North
Korea-U.S. talks in mind, how will the Ministry respond?
A. South Korea and the U.S. have been closely communicating and
cooperating throughout the Biden administration’s review process of
its North Korea policy. I am aware that there was prior consultation
between the diplomatic authorities of the two countries regarding this issue.
I understand that there has been a number of opportunities for the
ROK Government to express its opinion and consult with the U.S. in its
policy review process. Such consultations are held following
sufficient discussions between related agencies, which allows us to
believe that the Unification Ministry’s thoughts are being conveyed.
Q. Regarding today’s discussion on inter-Korean agricultural
cooperation, will the issue of providing fertilizers to the North be
included in the agenda? There is word that the North is looking for
fertilizers ahead of its farming season – does the Ministry by any
chance have plans to send fertilizers to the North?
A. The Government’s basic position is that, when necessary,
humanitarian cooperation should be carried out without interruption.
Under this position, we are closely looking into the overall
humanitarian demand in the North and continuously reviewing which
cooperation measures are most appropriate.
Today’s meeting will be a chance to listen to various voices of
experts on the subject of inter-Korean agriculture cooperation. As
fertilizers play an important factor in improving agricultural
productivity, this issue may be raised at the meeting.
However, I would like to note that the meeting will review a wide
range of issues on agricultural cooperation, rather than focusing on
one or two specific measures.
Q. Though we cannot tell for sure if the North will take part in the
World Cup qualifier games set to be held in the South, what is the
Ministry’s view on this?
A. The second round of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying tournament
is an international sports event hosted by the Asian Football
Confederation. The Government will carry out necessary preparations
for the games, including those involving North Korea, in accordance
with FIFA regulations and international standards.
Q. Has the Ministry made contact with any U.S. officials regarding
U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Ɓlinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd
Austin’s visit to Seoul?
A. The Ministry has no plans to arrange meetings during the
secretaries’ Asia trip.
