Date: Monday, November 15, 2021
Time: 10:30-10:38 A.M.
1. Ministry of Unification working toward creating consensus on
peace and unification
The Ministry of Unification is pursuing a wide range of projects
with the objective of increasing public participation in the process
of devising policies and spreading national consensus on peace and
unification. The Ministry is especially focusing on expanding
communication and cooperation with those in their 20s and 30s, and a
number of related events are scheduled to take place this week.
On November 16, the Ministry will be holding a forum in which 100
Korean nationals, mostly composed of those in their 20s and 30s,
review and evaluate the Ministry’s policies and suggest improvements.
Tomorrow’s forum will share monitoring results on the Ministry’s
YouTube channel and its online unification education program, and
present a policy proposal on improvement measures. Minister Lee
In-young will take part in this forum and listen to the ideas of the
participating general public.
On November 18, a talk concert will be held where the younger
generation discuss the future of the Korean Peninsula. Forty youth
participants will be joined by a panel of four politicians and
experts. Minister Lee will deliver congratulatory remarks and listen
in on how those in their 20s and 30s visualize the future of the
Korean Peninsula.
On November 20, Minister Lee will deliver opening remarks and words
of encouragement at a mock investment contest attended by 10 finalist
groups. At this event, the younger generation will present business
ideas and plans for realizing a “peace economy” on the peninsula, and
receive investment from a panel of judges composed of experts in
finance, marketing, and inter-Korean economic cooperation.
2. Other schedules
Minister Lee will deliver congratulatory remarks at the 17th
Hankyoreh-Busan International Symposium on November 17 and at the 3rd
International Forum for Northern Economic Cooperation on November 18.
On November 19, Minister Lee will deliver a keynote address at an
academic seminar discussing the Biden administration’s international
relations, co-hosted by organizations including the Korean Association
for Eurasian Studies.
3. Q&A
Q. What is the purpose and nature of the upcoming “5th Conference of
Frontrunners of Three Revolutions” reported by the North Korean media today?
A. North Korea announced through its Rodong Sinmun today that it
will be holding the 5th Conference of Frontrunners of the Three
Revolutions. This conference, held once every decade since 1986,
honors exemplary workers or units in the fields of ideology,
technology and culture, and seeks to promote such practices.
This year’s conference will be the second of its kind held under
President Kim Jong Un, after the fourth conference held in 2015. It
appears to follow the North’s tendency in holding large-scale
political events, sectoral and unit scale conferences and
presentations to encourage the fulfillment of matters decided upon at
the 8th party congress and the completion of tasks assigned to the
first year of the North’s five-year economic development plan. It also
seems aimed at strengthening internal unity, as this year marks the
10th year since President Kim took power.
Q. You mentioned that the conference was previously held every 10
years. What would be the reasoning behind it being held after six
years under Kim Jong Un?
A. Until the fourth conference, the event was held on a 10 year
cycle. There are no particular regulations on when the conference is
to be held, but compared to past records, a six year span seems
shorter than usual.
As mentioned earlier, North Korea is holding numerous events to
encourage North Korean residents complete the tasks under the
five-year economic plan unveiled at the party congress. As part of
such efforts, the Conference of Frontrunners of the Three Revolutions
may be scheduled to be held at an earlier date.
North Korea noted in its Rodong Sinmun report that the conference on
the three revolutions movement and the three revolution red flag
movement are part of a strategic path consistently pursued by the
North, and characteristic of mass public movements aimed at setting an
example for people to look up to.
Holding the conference at an earlier date may hold various meaning,
such as emphasizing the need to follow through on party congress
decisions, accomplish tasks of its economic plan, and promote internal
unity as President Kim marks 10 years in office.
