Date: Monday, February 17, 2025
Time: 10:30-10:35 A.M.
1. Minister’s Schedule
Minister Kim Yung Ho attended the signing of a memorandum of
understanding between the Unification Ministry and the Korea Sports
Promotion Foundation today at 10 A.M.
On February 18, at 10 A.M., Minister Kim will attend the cabinet meeting.
2. Vice Minister’s Schedule
Vice Minister Kim Soo Kyung will attend the vice ministers’
conference on February 21 at 9:30 A.M.
3. Q&A
Q. General secretary Kim Jong Un visited the “Kumsusan Palace of the
Sun” on February 16, the first in four years. Also, the phrase “Day of
the Shining Star” is mentioned a number of times. This is rather
different, considering recent trends. How does the Unification
Ministry analyze this situation?
A. It is inappropriate for the Government to officially comment on
how the North chooses to refer to its internal event. However, since
last year, the North has often referred to Kim Il Sung’s birthday as
“April 15” or “April holiday” instead of “Day of the Sun,” while
calling Kim Jong Il’s birthday “February 16” or “February holiday”
instead of “Day of the Shining Star.” Regardless of how the North
mentions these holidays, its idolization campaigns for the two former
leaders and its promotion of allegiance to the top leader remain unchanged.
Meanwhile, President Kim Jong Un’s visit to the Kumsusan Palace
continued for over a decade starting 2012. In the last three years the
visits stopped, with this year marking the first visit in four years.
However, this is not an issue that calls for further evaluation.
Q. There was a media report today claiming that President Kim Jong
Un promised benefits to soldiers dispatched to Russia, such as
acceptance into the Worker’s Party, residence in Pyeongyang and
enrollment in university. Is the Ministry aware of such trends?
A. I do not have the information to confirm the report. However, the
North has a record of offering party membership and Pyeongyang
residency to persons of merit. There is a need to observe whether the
North will grant such privileges to troops dispatched to Russia.
Q. President Kim Jong Un signaled the construction of new apartments
in the Gangdong area, while stating that constructions in the Hwaseong
area were entering its final stages. This sounds like a new economic
initiative, what do you think?
A. First of all, the North reported “the groundbreaking ceremony for
building 10,000 flats at the fourth stage in the Hwaseong area took
place.” When announcing its five-year economic development plan in
2021, the North stipulated quantitative targets for only the housing
sector – 50,000 units in Pyeongyang and 25,000 units in the Geomdeok area.
As housing construction projects can produce results relatively
easily once human and material resources are invested, the North
appears to be prioritizing and concentrating resources on such
projects with the objective of producing tangible results. The
construction plans for Gangdong county seems to be in line with such
efforts. The Ministry will continue to monitor future developments.
