Regular Briefing by Spokesperson Koo Byoungsam
Date: Monday,
September 18, 2023
Time: 10:30-10:35 A.M.
1. Regarding the 20th North Korea Freedom Week
From September 17- September 23, the 20th North Korea Freedom Week
will be held by North Korean human rights organizations from Korea,
the US, and Japan.
Due to his schedule at the National Assembly, Unification Minister
Kim Yung Ho’s congratulatory remarks will be delivered by the Deputy
Minister for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs on his behalf at
the opening ceremony which will be held today at 11 A.M. at the
Daejeon National Cemetery.
As it is the first time that the Unification Minister delivers
congratulatory remarks at the North Korea Freedom Week, the Government
will fully support and cooperate with diverse activities of civil
organizations at home and abroad to improve human rights in North Korea.
2. Minister’s Schedule
From 10 A.M. today, Unification Minister Kim Yung Ho is attending
the Negotiation Group Leaders’ speech of the Democratic Party, and at
2 P.M., he will attend the opening ceremony of the Maumsory
Psychological Counseling Center at the Incheon Regional Division of
the Korea Land and Housing Corporation, and deliver congratulatory
remarks. At 7 P.M, the Minister will attend and deliver remarks at a
congratulatory dinner at the National Institute for Unification
Education. He will also grant an award to individuals with
distinguished commitment in promoting unification education in 2023.
On September 19, Minister Kim will attend the cabinet meeting at 10
A.M., and attend an academic conference organized by the Korea
Institute for National Unification to deliver congratulatory remarks
at 1:30 P.M.
On September 20, Minister Kim will attend the Negotiation Group
Leaders’ speech of the ruling People Power Party at 10 A.M., and
attend a talk concert on stories about North Korea at the Inter-Korean
Cultural Integration Center at 2 P.M.
On September 21, there will be a plenary session of the National
Assembly’s Foreign Affairs & Unification Committee at 10 A.M.
On September 22, at 3:45 P.M., Minister Kim will attend a contest
for composing and singing children’s song on unification, and present
an award to the winner. The Minister will provide words of
encouragement to the nine groups of the contest participants.
3. Vice Minister’s Schedule
On September 21, at 11 A.M., Vice Minister Moon Seoung-hyun will
attend the opening ceremony of a game event and deliver congratulatory
remarks. This escape room game event, hosted by the Citizens’ Alliance
for North Korean Human Rights and sponsored by the Ministry of
Unification and the Incheon Metropolitan City, is to promote public
awareness on North Korean human rights and Vice Minister Moon will
engage in activities with participants.
4. Q&A
Q) Kim Jong Un is reportedly on his way back to North Korea after a
five-day visit to Russia. Could you provide the Ministry’s overall
assessment on his visit?
A) The National Security Council already expressed its position last
week, and President Yoon has fully clarified the Government's stance
in his recent interview with the Associated Press. We will closely
monitor any cooperation between North Korea and Russia in the future.
Q) There is some analysis that Kim Jong Un may travel to China on
the occasion of the Hangzhou Asian Games. Could you provide any
information regarding possibility of Kim Jong Un’s visit to China, or
a key individual as part of the North’s delegation with the athletes.
A) We are closely monitoring North Korea's participation in the
Hangzhou Asian Games with relevant agencies. However, we do not have
information to confirm at this stage on the participants or the format
of the North Korean high-level delegation.
Q) I am aware that the Unification Ministry is taking follow-up
measures on the decision to impose administrative fines on lawmaker
Yoon Meehyang and eight other individuals, and could you tell us when
a deliberative committee will be held for imposing an administrative
fine?
Also, if they will be notified in advance of the imposition
of fines, has the procedure been decided for when they will be notified?
A) Last week, lawmaker Yoon Meehyang submitted an explanatory note.
The Ministry will review whether there is a violation of the
Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Act based on the submitted
statement. Depending on whether the note is sufficient for this review
or whether additional information is required, the schedule for the
deliberative committee has not been finalized at this point.