Date: Friday, September 9, 2011
Time: 10:30 ~ 10:48
1. Flood aid to North Korea
On Tuesday, the South Korean Red Cross pledged to send aid to flood victims in North Korea on September 15 in a notice sent to the North Korean Red Cross. We cannot send aid unless the North accepts our offer. North Korea, however, is not responding to our notice until now. Given the current circumstances, it is unlikely that aid will be delivered to North Korea. I must highlight that the South Korean government has clearly expressed its desire to send flood aid to North Korea and our position remains the same.
2. Ministry of Unification’s Public Schedule
Vice Minister Uhm Jong-sik will visit the Unification Observatory Tower at Mt. Odu and attend an event convened to commemorate the Separated Families Day on September 10. On September 12, Vice Minister Uhm is scheduled to deliver words of encouragement to the displaced people who are originally from North Korea at the 42nd meeting hosted by a social group called “Tongil Gyungmo.”
3. North Korea’s Public Events
Today, North Korea marks the 63rd anniversary of its founding and is holding a variety of events to celebrate the anniversary. North Korea’s Korean Central Television is broadcasting the mass gathering in the Kim Il-sung Square live right now. Kim Jung-Il and high-profile officials, including Kim Yong Nam, Lee Yong Ho and Choi Young Rim are attending the celebration.
4. Comments on Inter-Korean Exchanges and Cooperation
Today is a holiday in North Korea and thereby, there is no one crossing the border today. A total of 271 South Korean citizens are staying in the Gaeseong Industrial Complex as of this morning.
