Briefing by Unification Minister Kwon Youngse
Date: Monday,
April 11, 2023
Time: 10:30-10:36 A.M.
1. Unification Minister’s Statement
North Korea has consistently been insincere and unwilling to contact
with the South, refusing the receive telephone messages, and it is not
even responding to regular calls of the South-North Joint Liaison
Office and the military communications channels since April 7 without
any explanation.
The Government expresses strong regret over North Korea's unilateral
and irresponsible attitude, and strongly warns that it will eventually
isolate and put itself in a predicament.
Despite numerous calls and warnings, the North is operating
facilities in the GIC without permission, infringing the property of
South Korean companies.
The Government strongly condemns such illegal acts of violating the
Agreement on Inter-Korean Investment Protection reached between the
two Koreas and the Gaeseong Industrial Complex Act of North Korea. We
clearly state that the North will be solely responsible for the consequences.
As announced on April 6, the ROKG will pursue all necessary
measures, including legal action, to hold North Korea accountable for
its illegal activities, and will also actively cooperate with the
international community.
2. Q&A
Q) I understand that the statement under the name of the Unification
Minister has been issued for the first time in 10 years, after
Minister Ryoo Kihl-jae in 2013. Could you provide more explanation on
the background of this statement?
A) There have been several statements issued under the name of the
Unification Minister, however, it has been a long time since we have
issued a statement on this issue. As you may be well aware, we have
identified numerous occasions of the North’s unauthorized use of the
GIC facilities, and the scope of its use is even expanding. As I
mentioned in the statement, North Korea has also been refusing to
respond to regular calls of the South-North Joint Liaison Office.
Meanwhile, Chairman Kim Jong Un continues to escalate tensions on the
Korean Peninsula through the recent enlarged meeting of the central
military commission.
Under these circumstances, as the Minister of Unification, I decided
to come forward in hopes that North Korea will abandon its misguided
path and go with the flow of history.
Let me be clear that North Korea’s such behavior is not the right
course of action, not only for the future of the entire Korean people,
but also for the future of North Korea itself, and that the North
should wisely take the proper path and right choice.
Q) There was a map of the southern part of the Korean Peninsula
in a North Korean media report today. How do you assess the North’s
intention in this regard?
A) In addition to the comments I mentioned earlier, it seems that
North Korea has decided that it is more worthwhile to escalate
tensions on the Korean Peninsula in the midst of the ongoing ROK-US
military exercises. The Ministry is also looking into the specific
intentions of North Korea.
Q) As you just mentioned, today’s report from North Korea
indicated that Kim Jong Un may take more aggressive military actions,
which is likely to intensify the confrontation between the two Koreas,
coupled with your statement. How do you plan to manage this tension
between the two Koreas going forward.
A) Today’s statement is not to escalate tensions further, but to
urge Chairman Kim Jong Un to make a wise decision in such time of
heightened tensions where North Korea’s actions will not do any good
for the entire Korean Peninsula, not to mention North Korea itself.
Q) Could you specifically explain the possible legal actions
that the Government can take?
A) I have to say that there are limited options in taking specific
legal actions based on the agreement between the two Koreas with
respect to the GIC. We are currently examining specific legal actions
in this regard.
Q) Do you have any plans for the compensation that the GIC
companies are demanding for damages?
A) Currently, particular arrangements have not been layed out,
however, we are aware of the situation. There have been several
compensations made to the companies in the GIC, from which we received
a number of appeals. Let me say that we are taking their difficult
situations into account.
Q) How do you follow up with North Korea’s trends concerning
military reconnaissance satellite, nuclear tests, and additional provocations?
A) We are closely communicating with the relevant agencies, however,
it does not seem appropriate for the Unification Minister to comment.
