Date: Monday, April 26, 2021
Time: 10:50-11:05 A.M.
1. In commemorating the third anniversary of the Panmunjeom Declaration
Tomorrow marks the third anniversary of the Panmunjeom Declaration
for Peace, Prosperity and Unification of the Korean Peninsula. A wide
range of events will be held this week to commemorate the occasion,
and Minister Lee In-young will be attending a few of these events.
On April 27, the ‘Third Anniversary Event for the April 27
Inter-Korean Summit’ will be held at the Gyeongeui Line Inter-Korean
Transit Office at 9:30 A.M. The event – co-hosted by the Korean
Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation, the Korean Conference of
Regions for Peace, and the Civil Society Organizations Network in
Korea – was arranged with the intent of implementing the Panmunjeom
Declaration and contributing to the improvement of inter-Korean
relations and settlement of peace on the Korean Peninsula through
exchange and cooperation in the private sector. Minister Lee will
assess the historical significance of the Pamunjeom Declaration and
express the Government’s will to carry out the agreements.
In the afternoon of April 27, the Gangwon Provincial Office of
Education will hold an opening ceremony for a Peace Train experience
center at Jejin Station, which utilizes 3D imaging technology such as
VR (virtual reality) to provide the public an opportunity to
understand North Korea and experience peace. Minister Lee, together
with other attendees, will reflect on the meaning behind connecting
the South and North Korean railway, and share the future vision of
Jejin Station which will serve as the starting point of the eurasian railway.
At this time, the Korea Forest Service is holding a tree planting
event to promote the idea of realizing carbon neutrality by 2050 and
planting 300 million tress to restore North Korea’s forest. The
Minister will emphasize the importance of inter-Korean forestry
cooperation in responding to climate change.
On April 28, Minister Lee will deliver congratulatory remarks at a
panel discussion co-hosted by 36 lawmakers in establishing an
inter-Korean community of life. Inter-Korean humanitarian cooperation,
such as sending food and fertilizer aid to the North, will be the main
subject of discussion.
Other events will be held throughout the week, including a panel
discussion on issues concerning the end-of-war declaration and the
Gaeseong Industrial Complex; an academic seminar on the legislation of
the waters around the five border islands in the West Sea; and the
opening ceremony of an exhibition on the archaeological excavations at
Manwoldae Palace in Gaeseong.
2. Ministry to continue pursuing policy efforts to implement
inter-Korean agreements
The Unification Ministry, while supporting private-led events to
serve as a meaningful opportunity in strengthening the commitment
toward implementing the Panmunjeom Declaration together with the
general public, will also continue pursuing efforts on a policy basis
to carry out inter-Korean agreements.
On such grounds, the Ministry will finalize the 2021 Implementation
Plan on the Development of Inter-Korean Relations this week. The
implementation plan will address key tasks for 2021 in achieving three
main goals : ① Resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue and
establishment of permanent peace ② Development of sustainable
inter-Korean relations ③ Realization of a New Economic Community on
the Korean Peninsula.
Furthermore, the establishment of an inter-Korean video-conference
system at the Office of Inter-Korean Dialogue is approaching
completion. Since early this year, the Ministry has been working on
setting up a video-conference room to facilitate a system that allows
for non-contact inter-Korean talks, especially in times of pandemic
like the Covid-19.
Lastly, the 2021 White Paper on Unification (Korean) will be
published on April 28. The White Paper, which serves the purpose of
informing the public about the Government’s efforts in pursuing its
policies on unification and North Korea, will consist of seven
chapters including policy on the Korean Peninsula, humanitarian
cooperation, and settlement support for North Korean defectors.
3. Q&A (Partial)
Q. Officials at the Korean Council for Reconciliation and
Cooperation claim that they have heard from the North of loosening
border control between North Korea and China. Has the Ministry
received anything from the North regarding this?
A. The Government is closely monitoring developments in the border
area between North Korea and China. Movements regarding preparations
for the resumption of transport are being observed, but there is no
information that can specifically confirm when transport will resume.
Q. I am getting the impression that there is no official
confirmation regarding this issue. However, with movements evident in
the border area, I would like to know if the Ministry is making any
type of preparations.
A. The Government believes that humanitarian cooperation between the
two Koreas, especially at the private level, should be pursued without
interruption. As the border trend between North Korea and China is an
important factor in promoting private organizations’ humanitarian
cooperation, the Government will continue to monitor relevant developments.
Q. A North Korean defector group said that it plans to fly leaflets
to North Korea this week. What is the Unification Ministry’s position
regarding this claim?
A. The amendment to the Development of Inter-Korean Relations Act is
a law that seeks to protect the lives and safety of our nationals
living in the border area. The Government will cooperate with the
police and other related agencies to ensure that the law is
implemented according to the purpose of the revision.
Q. Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong mentioned last week that the
Government is not pursuing a fourth inter-Korean summit as of now. Can
you confirm if this is true?
A. The Government’s basic position is that all levels of
inter-Korean dialogue, including summits, need to be restored as soon
as possible.
The Government has a firm commitment to implement inter-Korean
agreements, including that of the Panmunjeom Declaration, and believes
that it is important to resume dialogue at and cooperation at an early
date to fully follow up on the agreements.
However, I do not have any information to confirm whether the South
is pushing for a fourth inter-Korean summit.
Q. Regarding the release of the Ministry’s 2021 Implementation Plan
on the Development of Inter-Korean Relations this week, was this plan
shared and consulted with the United States? I ask this question as
the Foreign Affairs Ministry mentioned it will fully coordinate with
the U.S. with regards to North Korea policy.
A. The Development of Inter-Korean Relations Act stipulates that the
Unification Minister formulate annual implementation plans in
accordance with a master plan which is devised every five years by the
Government. The 2021 Implementation Plan is one formulated in
accordance with the Third Master Plan of 2018.
There has been a number of opportunities for consultation between
South Korea and the U.S. since the formulation of the 2018 Master
Plan, which is why we believe that there is a consensus between the
two countries on the previously noted three goals. As the
implementation plan simply lays out the overall policy-making
environment and what the Government seeks to pursue in achieving its
goals, a separate round of consultations with the U.S. is seen as unnecessary.
There will be more consultation opportunities in the process of
implementing these plans, allowing for the Government to carry out the
plan based on sufficient cooperation and consultation with the U.S.
