| March
1. | - President Moon Jae-in gives
a speech marking the 100th anniversary of the March First
Independence Movement.
- (Regarding the second North
Korea-US summit) “It made meaningful progress, given the
fact that the two leaders enhanced their mutual
understanding and built trust even more; they discussed the
issue of establishing liaison offices, an important step
toward the normalization of bilateral ties; and this is part
of a process to reach a higher level of agreement.”
-
“On the basis of the spirit of the March First Independence
Movement and national unity, I will strive to foster a ‘new
Korean Peninsula system.’” |
| March 1. | - North Korean
Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho has a press conference.
-
(Regarding the second North Korea-US summit) North Korea
asked for a “partial lifting of sanctions, instead of a
complete lifting. The North requested that the five
resolutions on sanctions on North Korea adopted in 2016 and
2017 out of all 11 sanctions - the provisions that cause
inconvenience in the people’s everyday lives and that
restrain the civilian economy - be lifted first.
|
| March 2. |
- The ROK Minister of National Defense and the US
Secretary of Defense decide to end the Key Resolve/Foal
Eagle exercises.
|
| March
4. | - President Moon Jae-in, in a
general meeting of the National Security Council (NSC),
makes remarks.
- (Regarding the second North Korea-US
summit) “It was successful in that it discussed complete
dismantlement of the nuclear facilities in Yeongbyeon, a
partial lifting of economic sanctions on the North, and
installation of an American liaison office in the
North.”
- “Confirming the difference in positions
between North Korea and the US and exploring ways to narrow
the difference; devising a plan to facilitate North Korea-US
dialogue through development of inter-Korean relations
within the framework of sanctions; and establishing the
concept of a new Korean Peninsula system and setting a
vision.” |
| March 5. |
- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un
returns to Pyeongyang after concluding a successful visit to
Vietnam (reported by KCNA).
|
| March 6. | - The members of
the emergency planning committee for the Corporate
Association of the Gaeseong Industrial Complex (GIC) apply
for approval to visit the North to check their assets in the
GIC.
|
| March 8. | - The UN Security Council Sanctions
Committee on North Korea approves sanctions exemptions for
video reunions of separated families.
|
| March 11. | - US Special
Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun, in an
international nuclear policy conference, states, “What the
US wants from North Korea is the elimination of all elements
of its nuclear fuel cycle.”
|
| March 12. | - The UN
Security Council Sanctions Committee on North Korea releases
the annual report of the Panel of Experts.
|
| March 14. | - The
ROK-US working group on North Korea holds a meeting in
Washington.
- Discussing inter-Korean exchange and
cooperation projects including video reunions of separated
families, exchange of video messages, joint excavation of
Manwoldae, a Goryeo-era palace in Gaeseong, and other
overall issues. |
| March
15. | - North Korea’s First Vice
Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui has a press conference in
Pyeongyang.
- “During the summit, President Trump,
with a gesture expressing flexibility, suggested that the US
would meet our requirements by adding one sentence to the
declaration about (how) sanctions would be reinstated if the
DPRK resumes and restarts (its) nuclear activities.”
-
“The US’s robber-like position will make the situation
dangerous, and North Korea has no plan to engage in
negotiations like this one.”
- “Our supreme leadership
is likely to make decision soon.” |
| March 18. | - US
Secretary of State Pompeo has an interview with the
press.
- “Dialogue definitely continues, and the US
will engage with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un
again.” |
| March 21. |
- The Inter-Korean Exchange and
Cooperation Promotion Council holds its 303rd meeting.
- Deliberating and resolving a total of four proposals
including Support for Genetic Testing of Separated Families
and Support of the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund for Video
Reunions of Separated Families. |
| March 21. | - The Ministry
of Unification publishes the 2019 White Paper on Korean
Unification.
|
| March 21. |
- The US Department of Treasury
imposes sanctions on two Chinese shipping companies for
helping North Korea evade sanctions.
- Two shipping
companies: Dalian Haibo and Liaoning Danxing.
|
| March 22. |
- North Korea withdraws from the inter-Korean joint
liaison office.
- North Korea notified the South
through the liaison representatives that the North was
withdrawing from the liaison office according to
instructions of the superior authorities.
- The ROK
government expressed regret about the North’s decision of
withdrawal and called on the North to return to the office
as soon as possible. |
| March
22. | - The Ministry of
Unification suspends approval of a visit to the North by
members of the emergency planning committee for the
Corporate Association of the Gaeseong Industrial Complex
(GIC).
|
| March 22. | - The UN Human Rights Council adopts a
human rights resolution on North Korea.
- Emphasizing
the importance of dialogue and engagement to improve the
human rights and humanitarian situation in North Korea, and
welcoming the agreements at the inter-Korean summit
concerning issues of separated families including resumption
of reunions of separated families. |
| March 25. | - Some of the
North Korean staff members return to the inter-Korean joint
liaison office, and liaison representatives resume
discussions.
|
| March 26. |
- The Spanish High Court releases
the investigation findings of the North Korean embassy
break-in.
- The ten people who raided the North Korean
Embassy in Madrid were ROK, American, and Mexican nationals,
and one of the intruders contacted the FBI. |
| March 28. | - The ROK
Ministry of Unification establishes the 2019 implementation
plan for development of inter-Korean relations.
|
