| January
1. | - North Korea releases the
results of the 5th plenary meeting of the 7th Central
Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea.
-
Assessment of 2019: Defending and guaranteeing our
sovereignty and right to existence by increasing defense
capabilities; and completing construction in Samjiyeon and
Yangdeok.
- Economy: Bolstering self-reliance
- Foreign affairs and military: Strengthening national
defense, developing new strategic weapons, and mentioning
that the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula depends on
the US’s position on North Korea.
* Kim Jong Un’s
2020 New Year’s Address was unpublished. |
| January 1. | - A
spokesperson for the ROK Ministry of Unification issues a
statement regarding the 5th plenary meeting of the 7th
Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea of the
DPRK.
“We hope that dialogue between North Korea and
the U.S. is held as soon as possible and substantial
progress is made according to the principle of simultaneous
and parallel implementation of the joint declaration as
agreed in Singapore.”
“If North Korea carries out the
plan for developing new strategic weapons, it would not be
of help to the efforts to establish peace on the Korean
Peninsula or to the denuclearization negotiations.”
“The government will continue to work hard to make progress
not only in inter-Korean relations but in the
denuclearization negotiations between Pyeongyang and
Washington. The ROK and the US have suspended major joint
military exercises during the talks.” |
| January 2. | - ROK
President Moon Jae-in makes remarks at the New Year’s
Gathering with Business and Social Leaders
“We will
achieve without fail a peaceful community of mutually
beneficial prosperity together with the people’s aspiration
for peace on the Korean Peninsula.”
“Peace does not
come without action.”
“In inter-Korean relations, we
will also make efforts by further expanding our room to
maneuver.” |
| January 7. |
- ROK President Moon Jae-in
delivers his New Year’s Address.
“Internationally
coordinated solutions are required to adhere to the three
principles for peace on the Korean Peninsula: zero tolerance
for war, mutual security guarantees and common prosperity.
Still, there are things that can be accomplished through
inter-Korean cooperation.” |
| January 10. | - Chung
Eui-yong, chief of the Blue House National Security Office,
returns to Seoul after his visit to the U.S. and says, “As
far as I am aware, President Trump’s message of birthday
wishes for Chairman Kim was conveyed to the North through
appropriate channels yesterday (January 9).”
|
| January 11. |
- Kim Kye Gwan, adviser to the DPRK Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, issues a statement.
“The South Korean
authority, in a written notice, relayed US President Trump’s
message of birthday wishes to us. But we had already
directly received from Trump a letter with the
greetings.” |
| January 14. |
- South Korean President Moon
Jae-in holds the New Year’s press conference.
“Although dialogue between Pyeongyang and Washington is not
active, trust between US President Trump and North Korean
leader Kim Jong Un remains unchanged. Their efforts to hold
dialogue continue.”
“Because the North Korea-US
dialogue is deadlocked, inter-Korean relations are also
mired in difficulties. However, efforts to increase
cooperation through dialogue continue and things will go
well.”
“At this point of time, if we explore
realistic plans and develop inter-Korean relations as much
as we can, it would be not only a good thing in itself but
have a positive effect on dialogue between North Korea and
the United States, creating a virtuous cycle.”
|
| January 21. |
- In a Cabinet meeting, the ROK resolves the plan to
pursue a joint bid with North Korea to co-host the 2032
Summer Olympics.
|
| January
22-23. | - The South Korean
director of the inter-Korean liaison office visits the joint
inter-Korean liaison office.
|
| January 25. | - The ROK’s
Minister of Unification participates in the 36th Gyeongmo
ceremony.
“(The government) will try all possible
ways to confirm whether relatives are still alive and to
bring about reunions, including face-to-face reunions, video
reunions, exchange of video messages, and reunions on demand
by the members of separated families through the restoration
and opening of a permanent reunion center.” |
| January 30. | - The
North’s Mt. Kumgang International Tourist Bureau sends a
note concerning Mount Geumgang to the South’s Ministry of
Unification.
“Regarding the coronavirus outbreak in
your region, we decided to postpone the schedule for the
dismantlement of South Korean-built facilities in the Mount
Geumgang tourist district in order to prevent the risk of
infection.” |
| January 30. |
- The two Koreas suspend the
operation of the joint inter-Korean liaison office until the
coronavirus threat is resolved.
- South and North
Korea will remain in communication by separate telephone and
fax lines. |
