Date: Monday, June 30, 2025
Time: 10:30-10:35 A.M.
1. Minister’s Schedule
Minister Kim Yung Ho will attend the cabinet meeting on July 1 at 10 A.M.
2. Vice Minister’s Schedule
Vice Minister Kim Nam Jung will attend the vice ministers’
conference on July 3 at 10 A.M.
3. Q&A
Q. Has there been any communication with the North following the
Government’s request to provide prior notice before discharging water
from its dams? Also, could you confirm whether any dam discharges have
occurred since the 27th?
A. We have not received any response or communication from the North
following our request. The Ministry continues to monitor the water
discharge status closely. As of 7 A.M. today, the water level at
Pilseung Bridge is holding steady at around 0.67 meters, which is
safely below the level that would require evacuation of visitors.
Q. Today’s Rodong Sinmun reports that president of state affairs Kim
Jong Un met with Russia’s Minister of Culture, and his daughter is
seen accompanying him. Does the Ministry of Unification see any
significance in Ju Ae’s presence at this event?
Also, despite President Trump’s gestures indicating openness to
dialogue, North Korea has responded with harsh language. How does the
Ministry interpret the reasons behind such response from the North?
A. The Ministry notes that president of state affairs Kim Jong Un
and his daughter Kim Ju Ae were observed together during the visit of
the Russian Minister and her delegation. Kim Ju Ae has previously
appeared at an official event at the Russian Embassy in Pyeongyang
this past May, marking this her second appearance in a diplomatic
setting. At this time, the Ministry does not attach any particular
significance to her presence.
Regarding the second question, the Ministry views the North’s recent
remarks toward the U.S. as falling within the bounds of its usual
rhetoric. There does not appear to be an unusual escalation in tone.
In fact, since the start of the Trump administration, the North has
maintained a moderated level of criticism compared to earlier times.
Q. At yesterday’s event welcoming the Russian Minister of Culture,
the North released photos of North Korean military forces dispatched
to Russia. How does Ministry interpret the significance of this disclosure?
A. North Korea has already made its dispatch of troops to Russia
official, both domestically and internationally. While this may be the
first time that combat-related images have been released in a way
accessible to the general public in the North, given that the
deployment has already been publicly acknowledged, we do not regard
this development as particularly meaningful.
Q. Are there any updates on the number of North Korea contact
approvals under the Lee Jae Myung administration?
A. The Ministry has shared earlier that, as of June 26, a total of
six cases have been approved. Moving forward, the Ministry will
consider the appropriate context and timing for any further
disclosures regarding this matter.
