Ministry of Unification’s position on
JoongAng Ilbo’s report regarding video reunions of separated families
July 12, 2019
o JoongAng Ilbo reported in its opinion section on July 12 that ①
“An official of the Ministry of Unification visited the North in April
2007 and delivered USD 400 thousand hιdden in a pink soap box to a
North Korean official” and that ② “The Unification Ministry secretly
handed a large amount of money to the North at a time when the
government should have actively prevented any cash from flowing into
North Korea.” This is not true.
o Video reunions of
separated families, in accordance with the agreement made between the
two Koreas (June 21, 2006), were carried out publicly through a
resolution of the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Promotion
Council (March 22, 2007).
- At the time, the ROK
Government was unable to directly provide to the North devices
necessary for the operation of a video reunion center, such as LCD
monitors and computers, as it went against U.S. Export Administration
Regulations. Therefore, the Government instead provided the North with
USD 400 thousand in cash for item purchasing purposes.
o It is regrettable that such false reports may possibly mislead
the general public to misinterpret government policy.