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Press

Press Briefings

본문영역

Regular Briefing by Spokesperson Lee Jong Joo

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고민석
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2021-02-22
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7672

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.