Date: Monday, November 8, 2021
Time: 10:30-10:38 A.M.
1. Ministry of Unification launches ‘Health and Medical Cooperation
Platform on the Korean Peninsula’
The Ministry of Unification will launch the ‘Health and Medical
Cooperation Platform on the Korean Peninsula’ and announce a joint
declaration on Wednesday, November 10.
The Ministry has been pushing for the establishment of a community
dedicated to life and safety on the Korean Peninsula through
solidarity and cooperation between the two Koreas in response to
global health crisis including Covid-19. To this end, efforts have
been made to expand and institutionalize cooperation among government
agencies, local administrative bodies, and private and international
organizations. The new platform is one of the many efforts taken to
form a community of life and safety on the peninsula.
The health and medical cooperation platform is a collaborative
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.
Participants will share expertise and cooperation experiences, create
a roadmap for health and medical improvement, and discuss and
coordinate cooperative projects in all fields.
The platform aims to serve as an open venue where anyone in the
field of health and medical cooperation with North Korea can discuss
any agenda; a comprehensive management system that connects the public
and private, domestic and overseas, and field and practical
experiences; and a round-the-clock collaboration system through both
on and off line means.
Health and medical cooperation with North Korea is expected to
progress more sustainably, efficiently and based on a wide consensus
at home and abroad once the platform is established. The Ministry will
continue making efforts to ensure the platform operate in this direction.
The inaugural ceremony of the platform held on November 10 will be
joined by 130 participants composed of government agencies and local
administrative bodies including the Ministry of Unification and the
Ministry of Health and Welfare; domestic civilian organizations
including the Korean Red Cross and Korea NGO Council for Cooperation
with North Korea; international organizations and NGOs including the
WHO and WFP; and experts from academia.
Unification Minister Lee In-young will deliver opening remarks,
followed by video messages by the Director-General of WHO and the
Chair of Gavi Board. Subsequently, a joint declaration will be issued
to announce the launch of the health and medical cooperation platform
and introduce its vision, goals, and operation directions.
2. Other schedules
As part of a project to commemorate the 50th anniversary of
inter-Korean dialogue, the Unification Ministry is publishing a photo
book today. It is the first official publication to organize the
history or inter-Korean dialogue through images. Those interested can
find the online version through the Ministry’s website.
A mock inter-Korean dialogue by college students will be held on
November 13, and Minister Lee In-young will attend the event to
deliver words of encouragement and award the winning team.
On November 10, Minister Lee will deliver congratulatory video
remarks at a ceremony hosted by Gimpo City in commemoration of the
removal of barbed wire fences in the Han River estuary. Gimpo City
will take down the barbed wires and establish an open space for the
public. The removed wires will then be used to make sculptures and
monuments. The Unification Ministry has utilized barbed wires in the
DMZ, symbolic of division on the Korean Peninsula, to produce a
unification piano, a music box playing reminiscent songs for separated
families, and crosses of peace. The Ministry will share these
experiences with local administrative bodies in the border area, and
continue cooperation to create opportunities in promoting the
importance of peace on the peninsula.
3. Q&A (Partial)
Q. How does the government evaluate North Korea’s artillery fire
competition held last Saturday? It is unusual for the North to unveil
military training not attended by Kim Jong Un – what do you believe
was the purpose of this competition?
A. In addition to the artillery fire competition of the artillery
sub-units under mechanized troops reported on November 7, North Korea
has been conducting various types of military training. In the past,
President Kim Jong Un often presided over these competitions and
military training, but President Kim’s attendance has not been
reported this year. The Ministry will keep a close eye on related
developments, rather than making predictions over the North’s intentions.
Q. Are regular calls still being made through the South-North Joint
Liaison Office since its restoration on October 4?
A. Since the restoration of inter-Korean communications channels on
October 4, the South and the North are making daily routine calls
twice a day, at 9 A.M. and 5 P.M.
