Date: Monday, March 18, 2024
Time: 10:30-10:35 A.M.
1. Minister’s Schedule
On March 19, Unification Minister Kim Yung Ho will attend the
cabinet meeting at 10 A.M.
At 6:50 P.M., Minister Kim will deliver a lecture at a forum held by
The Far East Broadcasting Company.
On March 20, at 7:30 A.M., Minister Kim will attend the 2nd
Wednesday Forum.
At 10 A.M., Minister Kim will attend a talk concert on stories about
North Korea at Yonsei University.
On March 21, at 8 A.M., Minister Kim will deliver a lecture at the
Korea Industry Alliance Forum.
At 6 P.M., Minister Kim will attend a talk concert on stories about
North Korea at Korea University.
On March 22, at 9:30 A.M., Minister Kim will deliver a special
lecture for Goyang City employees.
At 1:30, Minister Kim will deliver a welcoming speech at an academic
seminar co-hosted by the Unification Future Planning Committee and the
Korean Political Science Association.
2. Q&A
Q) North Korea has used the expressįon “great persons of guidance”
in a reference to Kim Jong Un’s daughter Ju Ae in its Rodong Sinmun
report. What does this signify and how does the Unification Ministry
interpret this expressįon?
A) The expressįon is normally used when referring to the North
Korean leader or the Workers’ Party. The possibility of the daughter’s
succession cannot be ruled out considering the protocol and expressįon
used when portraying her through state media. The Ministry is closely
monitoring the situation while remaining open to all possibilities.
However, if a fourth-generation hereditary succession becomes reality,
North Korean residents will be the biggest victims.
Q) After refraining from armed provocations for almost a month,
North Korea launched ballistic missiles today morning. The launch
coincided with the end of the Russian presidential election. What is
the Ministry’s evaluation of such development?
Also, the North noted the South as “South Korea” when broadcasting
the U-20 Women’s Asian Cup games between the two Koreas. It marks a
difference from the often used expressįon of “South Korean puppet” or
the previously used “Republic of Korea.” What is the Ministry’s take
on this?
A) There is nothing to comment on regarding the timing or intention
of the North’s launch of ballistic missiles. It is my understanding
that the Joint Chiefs of Staff released it’s position, and I will let
you know if there is more to share.
Regarding the second question, in the process of removing traces of
unification after denying the policy, the North is using a wide range
of expressįons when mentioning South Korea. However, the Ministry will
not assess how the North addresses the South.
Q) What is the Unification Ministry’s position regarding the North’s
recent replacement of its ambassador to Cuba?
A) Breaking a month-long silence, North Korean media today reported
on Cuba in its first since February 6, when the military attache
office of Cuba sent congratulatory letters on the occasion of the 76th
founding anniversary of the Korean People’s Army. It also marks the
first media report on Cuba after it forged diplomatic ties with the
South on February 14.
There is nothing to assess regarding the North’s report on Cuba.
Meanwhile, the North has yet to present its official stance on the
announcement of diplomatic ties between South Korea and Cuba.
