Date: Monday, December 23, 2019
Time: 10:30-10:38 A.M.
1. Minister's Schedule
Minister Kim Yeon Chul will will attend the cabinet meeting
tomorrow(12.24) at 10 A.M.
2. Vice Minister's Schedule
Vice Minister Suh Ho will attend the vice-ministers’ conference on
Thursday(12.26) at 9 A.M.
3. Q&A (Partial)
Q. December 26 will mark the one year anniversary of the
groundbreaking ceremony for the connection and modernization of
railways and roads on the east and west coast. How would you evaluate
the past year, and what are the prospects?
A. As you have mentioned, last year saw the groundbreaking ceremony
and an on-site survey of the North’s railway and road sections.
Consultations with the North is the most important task that remains,
and additional surveys need to be conducted. Through talks, the South
and the North will be able to devise a basic plan and carry out
specific procedures.
In order to promote inter-Korean cooperation regarding railways and
roads, resuming talks between North Korea and the U.S. and achieving
practical progress is important. The ROK Government will make utmost
efforts toward this direction.
Q. Over the weekend, the North’s propaganda website Uriminzokkiri
ran statements criticizing humanitarian aid projects for the North.
What is the Government’s stance regarding this?
A. The North has constantly criticized the South through state media
and propaganda websites, and responding to each and every one of these
statements seems unnecessary. The Government will consistently pursue
its principled stance regarding North Korea policies, including
inter-Korean cooperation and humanitarian assistance.
Q. The North’s Korean Central News Agency said an enlarged meeting
of the Central Military Commission of the Worker’s Party was held. How
does the government interpret the agenda and timing of the meeting?
A. We have closely looked into the enlarged meeting of the Central
Military Commission, and we will have to keep an eye out for the
plenary meeting of the North’s Party Central Committee and its New
Year Address to see how things turn out. The Government will carefully
look into any additional statements made by the North.