MinisterofUnificationJeongSe-hyunreportedonthe"MajorProjectsfor2004"toActingPresidentKohGunintheGovernmentComplexinGwacheonat1
Minister of Unification Jeong Se-hyun reported on the "Major Projects for
2004" to Acting President Koh Gun in the Government Complex in Gwacheon at
15:00, Wednesday, April 7.
o In today's report the Ministry of
Unification made clear its determination to lay the groundwork for the promotion
of peace on the Korean Peninsula and coexistence of the two Koreas, based on
last year's achievements, including creating a favorable environment for
a peaceful resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue and expanding and
developing substantial cooperative relations between South and North Korea.
The Ministry also suggested as its policy objectives: i) stable
management of the situation on the Korean Peninsula, ii) steady development of
inter-Korean relations, and iii) strengthening the foundation for national
consensus.
o To achieve these objectives, the Ministry established the
following six items as its major tasks: "making efforts to resolve the North
Korean nuclear issue and to ease military tension," "development of Gaeseong
Industrial Complex," "promoting the connection of railroads and roads,"
"establishment of regular and institutional exchanges of separated families,"
"provision of systematic aid to North Korea," and "enhancement of youth
awareness of the unification issue."
Contents of the activity report
for 2004 are as follows:
Efforts to resolve the North Korean nuclear
problem and to ease military tension
o To resolve the North Korean
nuclear problem, the Ministry will make efforts to achieve substantial progress
in resolving the nuclear issue in the future rounds of the six-party talks by
making active use of the inter-Korean dialogue channel.
o To ease
military tension, the Ministry will pursue measures to prevent incidental
military conflicts in the West Sea by pursuing inter-Korean general-level
military talks, and ultimately develop the talks into a consultative body for easing
military tension and establishing trust between the two Koreas.
Development of Gaeseong Industrial Complex
o During the first half of
2004, the Ministry will develop a model complex of 10,000 pyong (or 33,000
square meters). From the second half, it will start encouraging businesses to
move into the complex, while constructing infrastructure on the 1 million pyong
(3.3 million square meters) of land set aside for the first development stage.
o
As part of administrative and institutional measures, the Ministry will
establish and operate a government-wide "Support Team for Gaesong Industrial
Complex" as well as open the "Office for Economic Cooperation and
Consultation" in the complex.
Promotion of railroad and road
connection
o The Ministry will promote the connection of roads and the
Gyeongui and Donghae railroad lines in sequence following the progress of the
projects, as well as prepare institutional measures for the operation of the
railroads and roads.
o Once the railroads and roads are connected, the
Ministry will use them to transport aid supplies for inter-Korean economic
cooperation. It will also consider measures to connect them to Trans-Siberian
Railroad (TSR) and Trans-China Railroad (TCR) for creating a network for
exchanging goods between South and North Korea, as well as between the West and
the East.
Establishment of regular and institutional exchanges of
separated families
o The Ministry plans to begin construction of a
reunion center for separated families at Mt. Geumgang, with the aim of
completing the project by the end of 2005. The reunion center, which will be
able to accommodate a maximum of 1,000 people at a time, will be used not only
as a meeting place for separated families but also as "a place for exchange and
cooperation," including accommodation for tourists and a place for South-North
joint events.
o The Ministry will not only increase regular reunions and
exchanges of separated families but also make efforts to resolve the issues of
abduction of South Koreans to the North and of prisoners of war.
Provision of systematic aid to North Korea
o The Ministry will establish
and operate a "Consultative Committee on Provision of Aid to North Korea" and
divide up roles among the central and local governments and civic groups,
involved in the provision of assistance to the North. It will also promote
efficient and systematic assistance to the North by coordinating the regions,
schedules, and beneficiaries of aid.
Enhancement of youth awareness of
the unification issue
o The Ministry will actively develop
youth-oriented educational contents on unification, and try to create an
environment where young people can easily receive education on unification.
Finally, the Ministry will do its utmost to become "the Ministry of
Unification working with the people and loved and trusted by the people" by
carrying out its major innovation tasks for 2004, such as "developing capabilities
to carry out plans according to the changes in the environment for unification,"
"building ever-innovative dynamism," "promoting direct public relations and
increasing opportunities for the participation of the general public."
Spokesperson for the Ministry of Unification
* If you want to
see the full version of Major projects for 2004, click the attached files above.
