Press Release
Ministry of Unification will establish a
solid foundation for peace and prosperity through sustainable
development of inter-Korean relations
- 2019 Ministry of Unification Work Plan –
March 12, 2019
□ The Ministry of Unification reported, in writing, its 2019 Work
Plan to the Presidential Office (Cheong Wa Dae) and the Office for
Government Policy Coordination on February 24, 2019.
□ In 2018, South and North Korea produced a breakthrough for peace
on the Korean Peninsula and development of inter-Korean relations.
o Through three summits, the two sides agreed to significantly
improve inter-Korean relations and cooperate in pursuing complete
denuclearization, thereby initiating a virtuous cycle of development
of inter-Korean relations and progress in denuclearization.
o Inter-Korean relations have been restored and developed in the
process of implementing agreements reached in inter-Korean joint declarations.
- Inter-Korean dialogue is now routinely conducted through
high-level talks, sectoral meetings, and communication through the
inter-Korean joint liaison office.
- Inter-Korean exchange and cooperation - including connection of
railways and roads, joint survey of waterways in the Han River
estuary, cooperation in forestry and healthcare, and exchange in
sports, art and history - have been resumed and promoted.
- Efforts to resolve the agony of national division have continued
through reunions of separated families and resumption of assistance to
the North by non-government agencies.
o Additionally, efforts were made to garner and spread the public
consensus on realizing peace and unification.
□ In 2019, the government will establish a solid foundation for
peaceful coexistence and common prosperity through sustainable
development of inter-Korean relations.
<Establish a solid foundation for
peaceful coexistence and common prosperity through sustainable
development of inter-Korean relations>
◾ Bolster the virtuous cycle of improvement in inter-Korean
relations and progress in denuclearization on the Korean
Peninsula
◾ Regularize and systematize inter-Korean dialogue and
further institutionalize inter-Korean agreements
◾ Develop and
expand exchange and cooperation in all fields of inter-Korean
relations
◾ Address humanitarian and separated family issues
fundamentally and comprehensively
◾ Build a public consensus,
secure international support, and lay the groundwork for a consistent
North Korea policy
□ To this end, the Ministry will carry out the following tasks.
① The Ministry will push ahead with inter-Korean dialogue to build peace.
ㅇ It will facilitate North Korea-US dialogue through inter-Korean
dialogue, and further bolster the virtuous cycle of improvement in
inter-Korean relations and progress in denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula.
ㅇ It will seek development in inter-Korean relations and progress in
denuclearization, and address key issues through close communication
between the leaders of the South and the North.
- It will develop a system to promote inter-Korean dialogue
including high-level talks, sectoral working-level meetings, joint
committees, and the inter-Korean joint liaison office.
② The Ministry will lay the foundation for the South-North Korean community.
ㅇ It will pursue cooperation projects for such purposes as
connection of land routes (railways and roads), sea routes (joint use
of the Han River estuary), and air routes; forestry cooperation; and
peaceful use of the demilitarized zone (DMZ) so that the people can
plainly see increasing exchange and cooperation.
ㅇ It will prepare for the reopening of the Gaeseong Industrial
Complex and the resumption of Mount Geumgang tours within the
framework of sanctions against North Korea and develop plans for the
New Economic Initiative and joint special economic zones.
ㅇ It will continue to promote social, cultural, and sports exchange:
the South and the North will work together to restore historical and
cultural heritage and jointly bid to host the 2032 Olympics.
③ The Ministry will strive to substantially address humanitarian issues.
ㅇ It will seek to offer more opportunities for reunions of separated
families by restoring the Reunion Center for the Separated Families at
Mount Geumgang, holding regular reunions and video reunions,
exchanging video messages; and continue to work to address the issues
of Korean War POWs (prisoners of war), abductees and detainees.
ㅇ It will conduct daily-life oriented support program for North
Korean defectors by supporting their settlement and self-reliance
within their residential district.
ㅇ It will substantially promote human rights in North Korea by
improving the quality of life for the North Koreans, and pursue
cooperation among the government, non-government organizations, and
the international community.
ㅇ It will facilitate humanitarian assistance for expecting mothers
and infants in North Korea, and improve monitoring to secure
transparency in distribution.
④ The Ministry will lay the groundwork for sustainable North Korea policy.
ㅇ It will push ahead with the National Unification Contract and
implement peace and unification education for a brighter future of the
Korean Peninsula.
ㅇ It will enlist the international community’s support for peace and
prosperity on the Korean Peninsula by stepping up public diplomacy for
peace and unification.
⑤ The Ministry will expand the legal basis for institutionalization
of inter-Korean relations.
ㅇ It will establish a legal system that maintains stability in
inter-Korean relations by rationalizing laws and inter-Korean
agreements as appropriate depending on the progress in development of
inter-Korean relations.
⑥ The Ministry will establish a comprehensive management system for
archives of inter-Korean relations.
ㅇ It will systematically collect and manage important records of
inter-Korean relations and make the data publicly available and easily
searchable for the general public.
□ Based on these plans, the Ministry will duly take into
consideration the North Korea-US and inter-Korean situation as it
carries out its duties.
ㅇ It will do its best to lay a strong foundation for lasting peace
and common prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and for sustainable
inter-Korean relations.
