Date: Monday, February 14, 2022
Time: 10:30-10:37 A.M.
1. Government to finalize the 2022 Implementation Plan for
Settlement Support for North Korean Defectors
The ROK Government, in accordance with the North Korean Refugees
Protection and Settlement Support Act, devised the Third Master Plan
(2021~2023) for Settlement Support for North Korean Defectors last
year, with the goal of realizing a warm community atmosphere where
North Korean defectors are welcomed as neighbors.
Annually, the Government establishes and promotes an implementation
plan to carry out the goals and policy tasks presented in the Master
Plan. In line with such efforts, the Vice Minister of Unification will
chair the Council on North Korean Refugees Protection and Settlement
Support on February 17 to deliberate upon and resolve the 2022
Implementation Plan that has been drawn up through consultations among
related agencies as well as opinions of North Korean defectors and experts.
2. South-North Korea Exchanges and Cooperation Support Association
to open startup support center
The South-North Korea Exchanges and Cooperation Support Association
will hold an opening ceremony celebrating the establishment of the
Youth Startup Support Center on February 15.
The support center seeks to provide systematic support to youth
entrepreneurs that have interest in starting business in areas related
to unification or North Korea. The center will cooperate with domestic
and foreign startup support organizations as well as private
investment companies to promote public participation in coming up with
unification and North Korea related startup ideas, arrange startup
education and consulting support, and provide information on North
Korea. The Ministry will support the center in becoming a hub for
youth startups on unification and North Korea.
The opening ceremony, which will be held tomorrow at 2 P.M., will be
joined by the Minister of Unification, Minister of SMEs and Startups,
and youth entrepreneurs.
3. Ministry to hold first preparatory meeting of 2022 for the Health
and Medical Cooperation Platform on the Korean Peninsula
The Health and Medical Cooperation Platform on the Korean Peninsula
is an integrative environment that allows for discussions on a wide
range of subjects related to health and medical cooperation with the
North among the public and private, and domestic and international groups.
The platform, which was established last November, will hold the
first preparatory meeting this week to discuss platform operation
directions as well as major tasks for 2022. Minister Lee is scheduled
deliver congratulatory video remarks.
4. Q&A
Q. Former IAEA deputy director general Heinonen reportedly raised
the possibility of renewed activity at the North’s nuclear complex in
Yeongbyeon. Is the Ministry aware of such developments, and what is
its position? Also, how long has it been since the complex was last
found to be in operation?
A. Developments concerning the North’s nuclear and missile program,
including those at Yeongbyeon, are closely tracked and monitored
through close ROK-U.S. coordination. However, we cannot confirm
whether specific facilities are in operation.
Q. Is the Unification Ministry in discussion with related countries
or organizations on efforts to improve relations with the North or to
stabilize the situation on the Korean Peninsula?
A. The Unification Ministry continues to pursue various measures to
stably manage the situation on the Korean Peninsula and bring North
Korea back to dialogue and cooperation. It is also in close
cooperation with humanitarian organizations under the United Nations
as well as related countries including the United States.
In this respect, the Ministry has devised humanitarian measures in
areas of healthcare and public welfare that reflect the North’s urgent
demands. It has also held discussions with the U.S. on a number of
occasions, arranging meetings with key personnel during his or her
visit to Seoul and holding director-general level talks.
Furthermore, the Ministry has pursued humanitarian projects
concerning the North with major international organizations including
UNICEF, WFP, and WHO. Areas of cooperation include support for infants
and young children, emergency relief, and improving the North’s
healthcare system. Though international projects in the North have
been temporarily suspended due to North Korea’s border control, we
have continued cooperation and communication through various means,
including the Health and Medical Cooperation Platform on the Korean
Peninsula. The platform has allowed related bodies to share
information about current situations and discuss methods to resume
work on the ground in the North.