Date: Monday, June 21, 2021
Time: 10:30-10:40 A.M.
1. Government stance regarding North Korea’s 3rd plenary meeting of
the party’s 8th central committee
The ROK Government takes note of the fact that North Korea called
for efforts to take stable control of the situation on the Korean
Peninsula, and that President Kim Jong Un himself mentioned the need
to be prepared for dialogue at the plenary meeting of the party’s
central committee. We hope this leads to the resumption of
inter-Korean and North Korea-U.S. talks.
While keeping a close watch on North Korea’s follow-up measures for
implementing the conclusions drawn from the meeting, the Government
will make every effort to settle peace and stability on the Korean
Peninsula, pursue inter-Korean humanitarian cooperation and resume
inter-Korean and DPRK-U.S. dialogue.
The agenda of items discussed at the meeting included measures to
improve the North’s economy and public welfare, such as solving its
food problem, responding to Covid-19, stabilizing people’s lives, and
providing child care. Corresponding measures to U.S. policy on North
Korea was also a major item on the agenda. As seen by reports of the
meeting’s repercussions in all sectors including the cabinet and
provincial party committees, and President Kim Jong Un’s attendance at
a performance with party members, North Korea is encouraging its
people to thoroughly implement the measures decided through
discussions at the plenary meeting of the party’s central committee.
2. Unification Minister to meet U.S. Special Representative for the DPRK
Minister Lee In-young will sit down for a meeting with U.S. Special
Representative for the DPRK Sung Kim on June 22 at 8 A.M. Special
Representative Kim will be visiting the Ministry of Unification as
this is his first trip to South Korea since his appointment. The
Ministry will seek to expand U.S. understanding of our government’s
plan to improve inter-Korean relations and strengthen commitment to
ROK-U.S. cooperation.
Following the meeting with Minister Lee, Special Representative Kim
and Unification Vice Minister Choi Young Joon will hold a bilateral
meeting on North Korea policy at 8:30 A.M. This high-level
consultation between the Unification Ministry and the U.S. State
Department will be an opportunity to share assessments of the recent
situation in North Korea and discuss ways to advance the peace process
on the Korean Peninsula, including issues concerning the reunion of
separated families and humanitarian cooperation.
On June 23, the Ministry’s Director General for Unification Policy
will hold talks with Deputy Special Representative Dr. Jung Park at
11:30 A.M.
The Unification Ministry seeks to move forward with the peace
process while closely cooperating with the U.S. through consultations
at various levels.
3. Other schedule
Minister Lee is delivering congratulatory remarks on a number of
occasions this week.
The first was at a roundtable discussion held by the inter-Korean
exchange and cooperation policy council of local governments today at
10 A.M. This will be followed by the 2021 Korea Youth Open-lab for
Peace Economy : Ideas for Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation at
1:30 P.M.
The third occasion will be at the 2021 International Conference on
Peace & Development on the Korean Peninsula held by civilian
groups including Korean Sharing Movement on June 22 at 10 A.M. This
will be delivered in video format.
Lastly, Minister Lee will take part in an online concert on the
theme of “Peace on the Korean Peninsula created by women” through
congratulatory video remarks. This event is arranged by the National
Unification Advisory Council’s women’s committee in Busan.
4. Q&A (Partial)
Q. President Kim Jong Un also mentioned the need to get prepared for
confrontation at the party plenary meeting. Does the Ministry have a
stance with regards to this?
A. President Kim Jong Un stressed at the plenary meeting the “need
to get prepared for both dialogue and confrontation.” The Government
is paying attention to President Kim’s remarks on “concentrating
efforts on taking stable control of the situation on the Korean
Peninsula” and his mentioning of readiness for not only confrontation
but also dialogue.
Regarding the part about “confrontation,” the Government will
continue efforts to maintain a firm security posture while also
ensuring that North Korea’s recent position can lead to dialogue and cooperation.
Q. At a time of strengthened ROK-U.S.-Japan cooperation, China and
North Korea are also showing signs of stronger relations. This is
evident through Chinese Ambassador to North Korea’s recent op-ed
contribution to the Rodong Sinmun. How does the Ministry analyze this situation?
A. North Korea said that it would present an analysis of the current
international situation and propose the party’s corresponding
direction at the party’s plenary meeting. The outcome was its position
to concentrate efforts to stably control the situation of the Korean
Peninsula and prepare for dialogue.
As the party meeting focused on presenting the North’s stance on
U.S. policy toward North Korea, there was no particular mention of
North Korea-China relations. In order to peacefully and stably manage
the situation on the Korean Peninsula, all parties need to play a
certain role. Improvements in dialogue and cooperation among all
parties are necessary.
The Government will closely monitor the North’s relations with South
Korea, U.S. and China, and work to make sure that each relation
contributes to the peaceful and stable management of situations on the
Korean Peninsula.
