Hello,
If you will permit me, I would like to introduce myself.
My
name is Kwon Youngse and I am serving as the Minister of Unification.
I would like to start by saying a deep thank you to Choi Jae Woong,
President of the Seoul Foreign Correspondents’ Club, for graciously
inviting me to this meaningful occasion.
I believe that many of you may have quite a few questions regarding
the North Korea policy of the new government. I hope you may gain a
clearer picture today.
I would like to now briefly talk to you a little about the recent
situation on the Korean Peninsula, unification, and the North Korea
policy going forward.
Distinguished foreign correspondents,
In their latest Plenary Meeting, North Korea delivered a strong
message, using such terms as “kang dae kang” and “dae cheok tu jeng.”
(“power for power and head-on contest”)
North Korea may conduct a nuclear test at some point – that would
come as no surprise.
Nearly a month has passed since the new
administration of President Yoon Suk Yeol was launched, and yet the
North has not presented its official stance toward the South.
According to an announcement by the North, although the country is
achieving gradual improvements in dealing with COVID-19, its people
are continuing to face challenges, such as the spread of an intestinal disease.
It is no easy task to predict the actions of North Korea, but we
should follow these closely, taking various considerations into account.
Distinguished foreign correspondents,
The Yoon administration will respond firmly to any provocations by
the North on a firm basis of principles.
Through close Korea-US cooperation, we will effectively deter the
North’s provocations and foster stability on the Korean Peninsula.
However, we remain firmly committed to addressing all inter-Korean
issues through dialogue.
In that sense, our government will engage in consistent efforts to
achieve change in the inter-Korean relations, which are in a
stalemate, through the embracing of the path of dialogue.
In addition, as we have announced several times since the
inauguration, our humanitarian support will continue irrespective of
any political or military considerations.
This is essential to restore the sense of being one people.
We will also seek to provide humanitarian support to the North
through international organizations.
Regarding the human rights which are universal to global
citizenship, we will focus on effectively promoting human rights in
North Korea in a more practical manner instead of using this as a leverage.
I find coming to mind the words of a German politician:
“West
German politicians and citizens should try to take responsibility for
improving the quality of life for citizens in East Germany who have
solely endured the pain of national division simply because they were
in the east at the time of division.”
One might draw a parallel with inter-Korean relations.
In that respect, the Korean government will seek to find ways to do
all it can to improve the humanitarian situation of people living in
North Korea.
Distinguished foreign correspondents,
As you know, developments on the Korean Peninsula are closely
interconnected with the dynamics of the international community.
We are currently facing a range of security challenges, including
the US-China competition, the war in Ukraine, and economic crisis
followed by the pandemic.
It is now commonly believed that a new Cold War has begun.
North Korea is attempting to use this rift, the crack in the fabric
of the international landscape, by deepening developments of its
nuclear capabilities.
This is a very serious and fundamental challenge as we wish to
realize peaceful unification on the Korean Peninsula through the
denuclearization of the North and the normalization of inter-Korean relations.
Before and after I was inaugurated, I had the chance to engage in an
exchange of views with Wendy Sherman, the US Deputy Secretary of
State; Sung Kim, the US Special Representative for North Korea Policy;
Liu Xiaoming, the Special Representative of the Chinese Government on
Korean Peninsula Affairs; and a number of other distinguished
ambassadors in Korea.
On this occasion we reaffirmed the solid
consensus, and solid cooperation, in the international community for
peaceful unification on the Korean Peninsula.
The tougher the challenges we face - whether at the domestic or the
international level - the more compelling will be the need for the
consistent solidarity in the international community for peaceful
unification on the Korean Peninsula.
What is now vital is a united stance in the international community
that, whilst it will not tolerate provocations by the North, it should
encourage Pyongyang to engage in dialogue.
We look to you for your full support and enduring interest in these
heartfelt efforts by the Korean government.
I hope that even in the midst of this summer weather you will keep
safe and well.
Thank you for your kind attention.
