On December 21, Minister Kwon attended and delivered his
congratulatory remarks on the ｢3rd Korean Peninsula Infrastructure
Forum｣ centered on the theme of “Green Détente.”
During his address at the Forum, Minister Kwon imparted the
following statement: "The South Korean government, with
unwavering commitment, has consistently emphasized that it is prepared
to undertake decisive measures aimed at enhancing the well-being of
North Korean citizens, encompassing sectors such as healthcare,
agriculture, and water and sanitation, contingent upon the North
Korean authorities participating in denuclearization talks in good faith."
Moreover, “the implementation of the ‘Green Détente’ initiative
serves as a catalyst in the effort to ameliorate the tensions between
the two Koreas, while concurrently becoming a best practice of
inter-Korean cooperation that contributes to the global community by
addressing climate and environmental concerns,” he said. “Should the
"Green Détente" project yield positive results and cultivate
a foundation of trust between the two nations, it may lead to the
implementation of large-scale infrastructure projects, such as the
support for power generation and transmission, as well as the
modernization of ports and airports. This could potentially occur in
tandem with North Korea's progress toward denuclearization,” he added.
*Green Détente: A combination word of “Green (environment)” and
“Détente (reduction of tension); the act of reducing political and
military tensions through environmental cooperation.
