Regular Briefing by Spokesperson Lee Jong Joo
Date: Monday,
December 6, 2021
Time: 10:30-10:42 A.M.
1. Unification Ministry to release results of the 3rd survey of
separated families
The Ministry of Unification has conducted the 3rd survey of
separated families between April and October, and proceeded with an
analysis and evaluation of the survey results. Upon finalizing the
review, the Ministry will release key findings on December 9.
The survey on the actual condition of separated families is
conducted every five years under the ‘Act on Inter-Korean Confirmation
of the Life or Death of Separated Families and Promotion of Exchange.’
The survey targets all separated families registered under the
Integrated Information System for Separated Families. This year, the
Ministry was able to reach out to 47 thousand families, including
those living abroad.
By conducting such full-scale surveys, the Government seeks to
update all information necessary for finding separated families and
assess policy demands such as the desired method of exchange preferred
by families.
Based on the results of the third survey, the Government intends to
increase the effectiveness of its policy in a way that meets the
conditions and needs of separated families.
2. Ministry of Unification to release the 2021 ‘Who’s Who in North
Korean Institutions’ and ‘Biographical Dictionary of North Korean Figures’
The Ministry will be releasing this year’s Who’s Who in North Korean
Institutions and Biographical Dictionary of North Korean Figures on
December 7. The who’s who material contains information on North
Korea’s institutions, organizations and associated personnel, while
the biographical dictionary contains personal information, career
records and noteworthy activities of key figures.
The Ministry releases the two publications annually, reflecting
personnel changes made public through official North Korean media
reports on key conferences and meetings.
The material will be uploaded on the Ministry’s website tomorrow,
and be distributed to related agencies, institutions, and libraries.
3. Other schedules
Unification Minister Lee In-young will deliver congratulatory
remarks at the Overseas Korean Journalists Convention on December 7
and at the international academic conference commemorating the 30th
anniversary of the Korea Institute for National Unification on
December 9.
On December 8, Minister Lee will visit Daejeon at the invitation of
the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council and deliver a special
lecture on the current situation of the Korean Peninsula and the
future of inter-Korean relations.
4. Q&A
Q. Are routine calls through the South-North Joint Liaison Office
being made since the communications channels have been restored on
October 4? Did the 9 A.M. call go through this morning? Has the
Ministry made any additional proposals to the North since suggesting
to establish a video conference system last July?
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. These regular calls have been
operating without exception, and the call at 9 A.M. today was made as usual.
The Government proposed to discuss setting up a video conference
system between the South and the North on July 29, shortly after the
restoration of communications lines. We are currently waiting for the
North’s response. The Ministry hopes North Korea will respond to our
proposal at an early date to allow the two Koreas to safely and
effectively communicate even under the coronavirus pandemic.
Q. Media reports claim that the Blue House is looking into
delivering President Moon’s personal letter to the North Korean leader
regarding recent developments on the end-of-war declaration. What is
the Unification Ministry’s position regarding this report?
A. It is inappropriate to respond to reports based on speculation.
The Government’s basic position is that the end-of-war declaration is
a useful measure that serves as the gateway toward complete
denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and provides important
momentum to restart the Korean peace process. From this standpoint, I
would like to reiterate that the government has been in close
consultation with the U.S. and other related countries regarding this issue.
Q. I have a few questions regarding the Ministry’s new project to
monitor fake news, which has been allocated 200 million won. First of
all, the Ministry explained that the project will be outsourced to an
institute or organization specializing in unification – what standard
will be applied in the selection process? Secondly, how is this
project different from the two sections on the Ministry’s website
dedicated to fake news response?
A. Groundless rumors about North Korea frequently spread through new
media, causing harm by creating a distorted environment for
implementing policy. In an attempt to systemize the monitoring
process, budget has been allocated to this project through the
National Assembly’s budget review.
The Ministry of Unification is currently monitoring and responding
to unsubstantiated rumors based on related procedures and regulations.
Despite existing efforts, the National Assembly raised the need to
further develop and improve the monitoring process in a systemized
manner, eventually confirming the budget increase after undergoing
careful review. The Government shares the National Assembly’s concerns
regarding the issue and will provide plans to execute the budget in
accordance with its intention.
Details such as the organization that will conduct the screening,
the subject and scope of review, and the standard of judgement will be
defined through thorough consultations with organizations with
expertise in this field.
Q. Foreign media reported today that there are concerns over the
North’s winter food shortage. Does the Ministry have any information
on the North’s economic situation and its possible food shortage?
A. As many are aware, North Korea experiences chronic food shortages
of about 1 million tons each year. The North’s prolonged border
closure is likely causing difficulties in securing food supplies,
cutting off overseas trade and affecting humanitarian projects carried
out by international organizations.
However, as the North experienced better weather conditions this
year, many experts speculate a possible improvement in crop output.
The Government will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of this year’s
food situation in the North after observing overall crop conditions.
Meanwhile, as North Korea’s food shortage is chronical and is
affected by a wide range of factors, the Government will continue
monitoring the situation while also reviewing its possible need for
humanitarian cooperation,
On a separate note, there have been several reports suggesting a
rise in prices of daily necessities in the North, including prices of
grain and other food products. Though there are limits to obtaining
accurate information about recent developments in the North, the
Government assesses that prolonged border lockdown has increased
volatility in overall prices of food and goods, and certain products
are showing a steep rise in pricing. The Government seeks to grasp the
North’s food situation based on a overall review, including these factors.
