Unification Minister Kim Yung Ho meets
with members of the Korean-German Parliamentary Friendship Group to
discuss Korean Peninsula issues and Korean-German cooperation
-October 30, 2023-
□ On October 30, Unification minister Kim Yung Ho met with members
of the Korean-German Parliamentary Friendship Group, including Heike
Baehrens, Chairperson of the Group, to discuss the situation on the
Korean Peninsula and policy on North Korea.
※ The Group included Heike Baehrens (Chairperson of Korean-German
Parliamentary Friendship Group, Social Democratic Party), Thomas
Röwekamp (Vice President of the Senate, Christian Democratic Union),
Christian Görke (Left Party), Canan Bayram (The Greens) and Olaf in
der Beek (Free Democratic Party)
□ Minister Kim welcomed the group’s visit to the Ministry of
Unification and expressed his hope to deepen mutual cooperation based
on universal values and principles as Korea and Germany celebrate the
140th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year.
o The minister explained the South Korean government’s policy
directions on North Korea’s denuclearization, the promotion of human
rights in North Korea, and preparation for unification based on a
liberal democratic order. He also asked for the German Parliament’s
cooperation and support for the vision of “a unified Korean Peninsula
that is free and at peace,” which the leaders of South Korea, the
United States, and Japan expressed support for in August.
□ Mentioning that the resolution on “Enhancing and Developing
the South Korea-Germany Values Partnership,” adopted by the German
Federal Parliament two weeks ago, included support for the unification
of the Korean Peninsula, the Group expressed interest for the South
Korean government’s policy direction.
□ Meanwhile,
Minister Kim noted that Busan, which the Group will visit tomorrow, is
bidding to host the World Expo 2030, and sought the Group’s support
for the bid.
□ The meeting is part of efforts to expand international support for
the vision of “a free and peaceful unified Korean Peninsula,” and the
Ministry of Unification will continue to engage with the international
community to carry out “a peaceful unification based on the basic free
and democratic order” as stated in the Constitution of the Republic of
Korea.
/The End/
