Date: Monday, February 22, 2021
Time: 10:30-10:42 A.M.
1. Minister's Schedule
Minister Lee In-young will attend a plenary session of the National
Assembly’s Foreign Affairs & Unification Committee today at 2
P.M., and deliver congratulatory video remarks at the International
Academic Forum : Sustainable Development of Indigenous Languages at 5 P.M.
The forum, co-hosted by the Joint Board of South and North Korea for
the Compilation of Gyeoremal-Keunsajeon, the Korean National
Commission for UNESCO, and the Permanent Delegation of the Republic of
Korea to UNESCO, will see experts from countries including Korea,
France, Germany and Norway presenting an outlook on the achievements
of compiling a grand dictionary of the Korean national language within
the context of “sustainable development of indigenous languages.” The
forum will be aired live through YouTube.
On February 23, Minister Lee will attend the cabinet meeting at 10
A.M. The Minister will then deliver congratulatory remarks at a
seminar co-hosted by the Korean Red Cross and the South-North Korea
Exchanges and Cooperation Support Association on establishing a
community dedicated to life and safety on the Korean Peninsula.
Last year, the Ministry of Unification and Seoul National
University’s Institute for Health and Unification Studies conducted a
research study on the idea of a possible inter-Korean life and health
complex, and the findings of the study will be presented at the
seminar. Thereafter, officials from the Government and the Red Cross
as well as experts from international organizations and the medical
community will explore new models for improving inter-Korean
healthcare and medical cooperation in a mutually beneficial and
sustainable way.
2. Vice Minister’s Schedule
Vice Minister Suh Ho will attend a session of the National
Assembly’s Foreign Affairs & Unification Committee today at 1:30 P.M.
On February 25, Vice Minister Suh will attend the vice-minister’s conference.
3. Q&A (Partial)
Q. There have been reports about North Korean defectors planning to
sue the Minister for defamation over his remarks given at a press
conference with foreign correspondents on February 3. What is the
Ministry’s position?
A. The Unification Minister has made no comments implying that the
testimonies of North Korean defectors are “untrustworthy lies.”
The Unification Ministry and the Minister believe that the
testimonies of defectors are valuable records that allow our
government and the international community know about the human rights
situations in North Korea. We understand that the questioning of
defectors and the recording of their testimonies should be conducted
based on a victim-centered approach.
In addition to listening to defector testimonies, the Government
also verifies and confirms a wide range of information about North
Korean human rights. By accumulating various data, the Government
seeks to accurately and substantially record the human rights
situation in the North.
Q. Has the Ministry approved any requests to send goods to the North
this year? Secondly, what is the Ministry’s understanding of North
Korea’s efforts in securing coronavirus vaccines?
A. The Ministry has continuously stated that approving requests to
deliver humanitarian aid to North Korea will be based on a
comprehensive review of various factors including the North’s
humanitarian situation and needs, developments regarding the
coronavirus and border closure between the North and China, and the
position of groups seeking to send the material. Our stance remains
the same, and there have been no approved cases this year.
Regarding the second question, we are aware that the North has made
efforts to secure vaccines through COVAX Facility, and the Government
is closely monitoring further developments. However, we do not have
any further information about other efforts the North may be pursuing.
Q. Words are going around about resuming Mount Geumgang tours and
the Gaeseong Industrial Complex. It is also being said that these
projects are tied to the North Korea sanctions issue. Does the
Ministry have a position on such claims, and how will the Ministry
seek to resume these projects?
A. The Government believes that the Gaeseong Industrial Complex and
Mount Geumgang tourism projects played an important role in the
development of inter-Korean relations, and still hold significant
implications for North Korean policy.
In 2018, the two leaders of the South and the North agreed in this
vein to normalize these projects as conditions ripe, and the
Government seeks to follow through. To realize the agreement, we will
continue efforts to negotiate with the North, cooperate with the
international community, and create a public consensus.
Addressing the concern that such efforts can violate sanctions, the
Government will maintain its basic position and create conditions for
the resumption of these projects within the framework of sanctions
against North Korea. Meanwhile, there is a need to judge each project
individually as to whether it conflicts with sanctions. As
inter-Korean projects can be carried out in various forms, there may
be ways to pursue a project without violating the framework of
sanctions. Such areas are to be reviewed in the future.