Press Release (October 12)
The ROK government delivered the DPRK authority a notification which proposed a working-level meeting between relevant authorities from both sides for flood control of the Imjin River at the Office of Inter-Korean Economic Cooperation in Gaeseong on October 14.
- The notification was delivered through the South-North liaison offices at Panmunjeom.
- It was signed by the ROK Minister of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs and addressed to DPRK Minister Park Song-nam of the Territorial Environment Protection Affairs.
The North and South will discuss measures to prevent the tragic incident caused by the flood of the Imjin River in September this year from being repeated as well as the proposals we made in the past for flood control of the Imjin River.
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Q1. It has been one month after the tragic incident caused by the flood of the Imjin River in September. Why is it now that the South Korean government makes a proposal to have inter-Korean meeting on the matter?
Ever since the incident, the ROK government has consistently demanded the DPRK authority an appropriate explanation and a sincere apology.
- In order to prevent such an incident from being repeated, we have had inter-Korean consultative meetings to establish systematic measures for the control of rivers shared by both Koreas and to prevent possible damages.
- The purpose of the meeting is to discuss pending issues regarding the flood incident.
Q2. Why is the notification addressed to the Minister of the Territorial Environment Protection Affairs?
It was addressed to the Ministry of the Territorial Environment Protection Affairs which the North Korean head of the working level consultative meeting on preventing flood in the Imjin River basin belongs to.
- It is a protocol to address a notification to the counterpart whom we will have consultations with.
Q3. Is the South delegation planning to demand an apology according to the position of our government? And is it probable to get an apology from the North?
There is no change in the government s position that we announced in the Spokesperson s Commentary on September 8.
Q4. Who will be in the South delegation for the working-level meeting?
A director-general-level chief delegate will lead the delegation of three director-level officials.
Q5. Will the delegation accompany reporters?
As it is a working-level meeting, it would not be appropriate to accompany reporters.
Ministry of Unification
