2008 Policy
Report of MOU to the President
Ministry of Unification made a policy
report titled Action Plans 2008 for the Advancement of Inter-Korean Relations to
President Lee Myung-bak the Headquarters for Inter-Korean Dialogue in the
morning of Mar. 26.
Overview of Policy Briefing
Date: Mar.
26 (Wed) 07:30-09:30
Participants: 48(17 from the Office of
the President, Minister of Strategy and Finance, Deputy Minister for Political
Affairs, Chairperson of the Grand National Party s Policy
Committee and 31 officials from the Unification Ministry including Minister,
Vice Minister and senior officials)
The Unification Ministry has set up Advancement
of the mutually-beneficial and co-prosperous inter-Korean relations
based on Pragmatism and Productivity as the goal of Action
Plans 2008 for the Advancement of Inter-Korean Relations and
presented Three Goals and Twelve Main Tasks
Three Goals
|
Twelve Main Tasks
|
I.
Preparation for the Implementation of the Denuclearization,
Opening and 300 Initiative (Denuclearization of North Korea)
|
Promotion of and support for the
resolution of the North Korean nuclear issues through the improvement of
inter-Korean dialogue
|
Establishment of action plans for the
implementation of the denuclearization, opening and
3000 initiative
|
. Expansion of Economic Cooperation in a
Mutually Beneficial Way
(Advancement of the National
Economy)
|
Settlement of difficulties South Korean
businesses face in inter-Korean economic cooperation
|
Cooperation in the field of forestry
|
Cooperation in the field of agriculture
and fisheries
|
Cooperation in development of natural
resources
|
Promotion of the Nadeul Island project
|
. Promotion of Cooperation on
Mutually-beneficial Humanitarian Projects
(Happiness of the both South and North
Koreans)
|
Establishment of a stable the system
for separated family reunions
|
Progress in the resolution of POW and
abductee issues
|
Improved protection for North Korean
refugees
|
Increased transparency in distribution
of aid toward North Korea
|
Increased efforts for improving in
North Korean human rights
|
The basic direction of the Action
Plans 2008 for the Advancement of Inter-Korean Relations is
to change circumstances of the Korean Peninsula into a more stable one and
create a favorable environment for another take-off of the economy by
bolstering the efforts to improve inter-Korean relations and to promote peace
on the Korean Peninsula.
The Ministry of Unification will
acknowledge public criticism aroused while carrying out policies to shift the
way of doing in a way that promotes a more productive inter-Korean relations
through pragmatic and creative approaches
To this end, the Ministry of Unification
has set four main principles: pragmatic and result-oriented attitude, upholding
principles while having flexible approaches, national consensus and pursuit of
inter-Korean cooperation in close cooperation with the international community
The Ministry has also presented five
practical standards to judge pragmatism and productivity of policy
implementation.
They are whether the
people agree it is cost-effective it is helpful in improving the lives of North Koreans it can facilitate constructive changes in North Korea and it contributes to peaceful unification.
As for specific tasks of inter-Korean
economic cooperation to drive the economy, the Unification Ministry announced
it will expand cooperation in resources development in the areas of North Korea to help address the shortage of resources in South Korea. The Ministry also reported to
actively resolve the difficulties facing South Korean companies involved in
inter-Korean economic cooperation projects in their efforts to enhance the
profitability.
The Ministry also expressed its
determination to actively address humanitarian issues including separated
family reunions of senior citizens aged 80 or older and POW and abductee issues
as a top priority.
Following the above-mentioned policy
briefing of MOU, participants discussed the present and
future of inter-Korean economic cooperation and substantial
settlement of inter-Korean humanitarian issues .
Spokesperson
of MOU