Date: Monday, October 25, 2021
Time: 10:30-10:37 A.M.
1. Unification Ministry designates week for promoting inter-Korean
integration through cultural events
The Ministry of Unification will be designating this week, from
October 25 to 30, as a week for promoting inter-Korean integration
through cultural events and introducing various projects taken part by
North Korean defectors and local residents. The Ministry will be
running a wide range of programs through the Inter-Korean Cultural
Integration Center, including joint art performances, presentations
and kimchi sharing volunteer work.
The Unification Ministry anticipates this week to provide more
opportunities for communication and harmony among North Korean
defectors and local South Korean residents, and to spread an
integrated culture in which the people of the South and the North
prepare for peace and unification together.
2. Other Schedule
Unification Minister Lee In-young will deliver congratulatory video
remarks at the 7th Pan Yellow Sea Forum held by Chungcheongnam-do, and
at a seminar on inter-Korean cooperation in response to climate crisis
on the Korean Peninsula held by the Korea Meteorological
Administration on October 26 and 27 respectively.
Minister Lee will also deliver congratulatory video remarks at a
talk concert on peace and unification among those in their 20s and 30s
(P-UZY) on October 30. Vice Minister Choi Young Joon, composer Youn
Sang and television personality Sam Hammington will take part in this
event, and participants will discuss virtual travel tours to the North.
3. Q&A (Partial)
Q. Please evaluate the meaning of the President's visit to the
Vatican, accompanied by the Unification Minister.
A. The Government hopes the President’s visit to the Vatican be an
opportunity for President Moon and the Pope, who has expressed deep
interest in issues on the peninsula, to talk broadly about the peace
process and share wisdom to promote peace on the Korean Peninsula.
As a dignitary in charge of inter-Korean relations, Minister Lee
In-young will support the upcoming visit as an opportunity to promote
peace and reconciliation on the peninsula, and piece together the
results of this visit with improving inter-Korean relations and
establishing peace.
Q. Does the Ministry have plans to request the Pope visit the North
at an early date?
A. We expect there will be extensive dialogue on the Korean peace
process during this visit to the Vatican. The Government believes that
the Pope’s visit to North Korea will contribute greatly to the
establishment of peace on the Korean Peninsula, and has maintained its
position to support the visit if related discussion progress. The
Ministry will continue to make efforts based on this position.
Q. Is there a separate schedule the Ministry will be pursuing in Europe?
A. Related negotiations are currently underway. We will let you know
as soon as it is confirmed.
Q. Does the Ministry have plans to propose anything to the North
through the South-North joint liaison office?
A. The Government, while stably operating the inter-Korean
communications line, has been making efforts to resume dialogue with
the North to discuss various pending issues. For this to be possible,
establishing a foundation for stable dialogue even under Covid-19 is
of priority, and the Government has accordingly proposed the idea of
setting up a video conference system between the South and the North
back in late July. The Government has been making other necessary
preparations to resume dialogue, such as reviewing key agenda for
consultation between the two Koreas.
We hope the North will respond to our proposal as soon as possible,
making it possible to proceed discussions on pending issues between
the two Koreas.
Q. Is the Unification Ministry arranging for any consultations with
the U.S.?
A. The ROK and U.S. is pursuing a fully coordinated North Korea
policy, and have been closely discussing various ways to engage with
the North including through humanitarian cooperation and trust
building measures. The Unification Ministry has been communicating
with the U.S. through various channels and opportunities, while also
consulting with related departments such as the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs. We will continue to pursue such efforts.
