| June
3. | - The ROK Minister of
Unification and the WFP Executive Director hold a video
conference and sign a memorandum of understanding
(MOU).
|
| June 4. | - Kim Yo Jong, first vice department
director of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of
Korea (WPK) issues a statement.
･ “On May 31, I heard
a report that so-called ‘defectors from the north’ scattered
hundreds of thousands of anti-DPRK leaflets into the areas
of our side from the frontline areas.”
･ “If they
fail to take corresponding steps for this senseless act
against fellow countrymen, they had better get themselves
ready for the possibility of complete withdrawal of the
already desolate Gaeseong Industrial Complex following the
cessation of tours of Mt. Geumgang, or shutdown of the
inter-Korean joint liaison office, whose existence only adds
to trouble, or scrapping of the inter-Korean military
agreement, which is hardly of any value.” |
| June 4. | - The
Association of Governors in Border Regions hands the
government a letter of suggestion for preventing North
Korean defectors’ groups from sending anti-North Korean
leaflets into the north.
|
| June 5. | - A spokesperson
for the United Front Department of the WPK Central Committee
issues a statement.
･ “As the first thing, we will
definitely withdraw the idling inter-Korean joint liaison
office housed in the Gaeseong Industrial Complex and take a
number of measures as hinted several times before.”
|
| June 7. | - North Korea holds the 13th Political
Bureau Meeting of the 7th Central Committee of the Workers’
Party of Korea (WPK).
|
| June
7. | - The North Korean media
condemns the South’s conservative media outlets, saying
“They are reacting with a senseless response to our serious
warnings against the scattering of anti-DPRK leaflets by
human scum, North Korean defectors, and the South Korean
authorities’ connivance at it.”
|
| June 9. | - The North Korean
media reports the severance of all inter-Korean
communication lines.
･ “Accordingly, the relevant
field of our side will completely cut off and shut down the
liaison line between the authorities of the North and the
South, which has been maintained through the inter-Korean
joint liaison office, the East and West Seas communication
lines between the militaries of the two Koreas, the
inter-Korean trial communication line, and the hotline
between the office building of the Central Committee of the
WPK and the Blue House (Cheongwadae) from 12:00 p.m. on June
9, 2020.” |
| June 9. |
- Communication lines between the two
Koreas including the line through the inter-Korean joint
liaison office are suspended.
|
| June 9. | - The ROK
government releases its position on the suspension of all
communication lines between the two Koreas.
･
“Inter-Korean communication lines must be maintained
according to the inter-Korean agreement because they are the
fundamental means of communication. The government will
continue to work towards peace and prosperity of the Korean
Peninsula while adhering to the inter-Korean
agreement.” |
| June 11. |
- Kwon Jong Gun, director general of
the Department of U.S. Affairs of the Foreign Ministry of
the DPRK, in a Q&A session with KCNA reporters, gives
the following answer.
･ “On June 9, an official of
the spokesperson’s office of the US Department of State made
such useless remarks that he supports the improvement of
inter-Korean relations but was disappointed at the recent
behavior of the DPRK, and urged the DPRK to return to
diplomacy and cooperation, saying that the US is continuing
to work closely with South Korea, an ally of the US. This
is, indeed, ridiculous.” |
| June 11. | - The first
deputy director of the Blue House’s National Security Office
announces the government’s position on the scattering of
anti-North Korean leaflets and goods.
･ “The
scattering of anti-North Korean leaflets and goods was
supposed to have halted under the inter-Korean agreements
including the Panmunjeom Declaration in 2018, the joint
statement by the South-North Coordination Committee in
accordance with the July 4, 1972 Joint Communiqué, the
Inter-Korean Basic Agreement in 1992, and the June 4, 2004
Agreement.”
･ “Despite the inter-Korean agreements
and the government’s continued efforts to stop the sending
of such leaflets and goods, some civic groups continued such
acts. The government expresses strong regret over it.”
･ “The government will thoroughly crack down on the
scattering of anti-North Korean leaflets and goods, and if
those involved violate the law, it will prosecute them to
the fullest extent of the law. It asks civic groups to
comply with applicable laws completely.”
･ “The
government will continue to uphold all agreements between
the two Koreas to maintain peace on the Korean Peninsula and
prevent accidental military clashes.” |
| June 11. | - TSeoul
Metropolitan Government approves sanctions exemptions
regarding humanitarian support for North Korea. .
|
| June 11. |
- A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
the DPRK, in a Q&A session with KCNA reporters, states
the following.
･ “We cannot but express our
astonishment over the reckless remarks made on June 10 by a
spokesperson for the UN Secretary General. He expressed
regret over our decision to cut off all inter-Korean
communication lines and stated that such lines are necessary
to avoid
misunderstanding or miscalculations.” |
| June 12. | - North
Korea’s Foreign Minister Ri Son Gwon issues a statement.
･ “Never again will we provide the U.S. chief
executive with another package to be used for achievements
without receiving any returns.” |
| June 12. | - Jang Kum Chol,
director of the United Front Department of the Central
Committee of the WPK, issues a statement.
･
“(Regarding the Blue House’s position on the scattering of
anti-North Korean leaflets on June 11) It is hard to clear
the doubt that it can be just a brainstorm trick of the Blue
House to tide over the present crisis.”
･ “The South
had neither willingness nor power to put its words and
promises into action. The South’s incompetence made
inter-Korean relations worse as they are now.”
|
| June 13. |
- Kim Yo Jong, first vice department director of the
Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK),
issues a statement.
･ “I feel it is high time to
surely break with the South Korean authorities. By
exercising my power authorized by the supreme leader, our
Party, and the state, I instructed to the departments in
charge of the affairs with the enemy to decisively carry out
the next action. Before long, a tragic scene of the useless
inter-Korean joint liaison office completely collapsing
would be seen. The next action against the enemy will be
entrusted to the General Staff of our army.”
|
| June 13. |
- Kwon Jong Gun, director general of the Department of
U.S. Affairs of the Foreign Ministry of North Korea, issues
a statement.
･ “It is not because there is not a
mediator that the DPRK-U.S. dialogue has gone away and the
denuclearization has been blown off. South Korea had better
stop nonsensical talk about denuclearization.”
|
| June 15. |
- ROK President Moon Jae-in makes opening remarks at a
meeting with his senior secretaries.
･ “The direction
that the two Koreas should seek together is clear. The South
and the North should move toward a path of reconciliation,
peace, and unification with optimism.”
･ “My
Administration will continue to make efforts to implement
the agreements. For its part, North Korea should avoid cutting off
communication, creating tensions, and returning to the past
era of confrontation. I hope that, through communication and
cooperation, the two Koreas will be able to resolve the
unpleasant and challenging problems that both face.”
･ “I hope that the two Koreas, as the masters of the Korean
Peninsula’s destiny, will be able to actively identify and
execute projects that we can decide on and implement by
ourselves. I will also make consistent efforts to gain the
international community’s agreement as well. I am also
looking forward to North Korea keeping the door open to
dialogue and both of us pooling our wisdom.”
･ “If
these agreements had been ratified by the National Assembly
and remained valid without change through different
administrations, inter-Korean relations might have advanced
much further than they have so far. I hope that the 21st
National Assembly will cooperate in a non-partisan manner
for progress in inter-Korean relations and peace and, taking
it a step further, to realize a peace-driven economy.”
|
| June 15. | - ROK President Moon Jae-in gives his
congratulatory speech at a ceremony marking the 20th
anniversary of the June 15 South-North Joint Declaration.
･ “The Korean Peninsula is not yet in a situation
where both Koreas can charge ahead as much we desire at our
own discretion. We must move forward, though slowly, with
the international community’s consent. Unquestionably,
however, there are projects that both Koreas can pursue
independently.”
･ “I ask North Korea not to close the
window on talks. I hope that even when facing obstacles,
dialogue will enable us to put our heads together and leap
over them.” |
| June 16. |
- North Korea demolishes the
inter-Korean joint liaison office in Gaeseong.
･ “At
14:50 on June 16, the liaison office was tragically
destroyed in a terrific explosion.” |
| June 16. | - The ROK
convenes an emergency National Security Council (NSC)
meeting (17:05).
|
| June
16. | - The first deputy director
of the Blue House’s National Security Office briefs
reporters about the National Security Council (NSC) meeting
(18:30).
･ “The government expressed strong regret
over the North’s unilateral demolition of the building of
the inter-Korean joint liaison office established in line
with the Panmunjeom Declaration of 2018.” |
| June 16. | - The
director of the inter-Korean joint liaison office issues a
statement (19:30).
･ “North Korea blew up the
inter-Korean joint liaison office today. Needless to say,
this is quite a shock. It would be difficult to overstate
how irrational this act was. It is wholly unprecedented in
inter-Korean relations and should not have happened. We
express the deepest regrets over the demolition and hereby
lodge a strong protest against it.”
･ “The demolition
of the liaison office is a gross violation of the Panmunjeom
Declaration of 2018 and a unilateral revocation of the
Agreement on the Composition and Management of the
Inter-Korean Joint Liaison Office.”
･ “Following the
North’s strident statements in recent days and unilateral
shutdown of communications, the destruction of the liaison
office caused great concern around the world as well as
among the Korean people.”
･ “Furthermore, it should
be noted that this destructive act was perpetrated one day
after the 20th anniversary of the June 15 Joint Declaration,
destroying the hopes of millions of people for lasting peace
on the Korean Peninsula. North Korea must be held
responsible for its actions.” |
| June 17. | - Kim Yo Jong,
first vice department director of the Central Committee of
the WPK issues a statement.
･ The North condemned the
remarks by President Moon Jae-in at a meeting with his
senior secretaries and his congratulatory messages on the
20th anniversary of the June 15 Joint Declaration.
|
| June 17. | - A spokesperson for the General Staff of
the Korean People’s Army (KPA) issues a statement.
･
1) Units of the regiment level and necessary firepower
sub-units with defense missions will be deployed in the
Mount Geumgang tourist area and the Gaeseong Industrial
Complex; 2) Civil police posts that had been withdrawn from
the Demilitarized Zone under the inter-Korean military
agreement will be redeployed to strengthen the guard over
the front line; 3) Artillery units will be deployed along
the border including the maritime border; forces will be
beefed up along the entire front line while reinforcing
those on combat duty; and all kinds of regular military
exercises in the areas close to the boundary will be
resumed; and 4) The KPA will provide a sure military
guarantee for the people’s scattering of leaflets against
the South.
･ We will map out the military action
plans in detail to obtain approval from the Central Military
Commission as soon as possible. |
| June 17. | - The Blue
House’s senior secretary for public communication announces
the government’s position on the statement by the North
(11:00).
･ “The North, through a statement released
by First Vice Department Director Kim Yo Jong of the WPK
Central Committee, answered by preposterously disparaging
President Moon’s intent in a rude tone while completely
failing to grasp it.”
･ “This fundamentally damages
the trust that the leaders of the two Koreas had built up to
date. We unequivocally warn that the South will no longer
tolerate such senseless words and acts by the North.”
･ “Furthermore, the North unilaterally made public our
confidential proposal to send a special envoy to the North
to help break through the current situation. This
constitutes an unprecedented irrational act, and we express
deep regret over the North’s deliberate distortion of the
purpose behind our proposal to send a special envoy.”
･ “North Korea’s recent series of statements and actions are
in no way helpful, not even for the North, and the North
will have to take full responsibility for their
consequences. Most of all, North Korea must acquire basic
courtesy going forward.” |
| June 17. | - The ROK
Ministry of National Defense announces its position on the
statement by the spokesperson for the General Staff of the
KPA (11:10).
･ “The ROK military expresses profound
concern about the announcement that the General Staff of the
KPA is pursuing ratification of various military action
plans that go against past inter-Korean agreements, as well
as the Panmunjeom Declaration and the Sept. 19 military
agreement from 2018.”
･ “The measures by North
Korea’s military authorities would instantly cancel out the
efforts and results that South and North Korea have made to
develop inter-Korean relations and maintain peace of the
Korean Peninsula over the past 20 years or so. If [the
warnings] are actually translated into action, the North
will pay the price.”
･ “The South Korean military is
closely monitoring North Korean military movements round the
clock and maintaining a robust readiness posture, and it
would continue working to keep the situation on a stable
footing and prevent the military crisis from becoming more
serious.” |
| June 17. |
- The ROK Vice Minister of Unification
issues a statement regarding Mount Geumgang and the Gaeseong
Industrial Complex (11:20).
･ “The ROK government
expresses deep regret over the North’s public statement by
the spokesperson for the KPA General Staff that the North
will deploy military units in the Mt. Geumgang tourism zone
and the Gaeseong Industrial Complex, turning those areas
into military zones.”
･ “The South and the North
agreed in the Pyeongyang Joint Declaration of September 2018
that both sides would first normalize the operation of the
Gaeseong Industrial Complex and tourism to Mt. Geumgang as
soon as conditions permit.”
･ “Accordingly, the
government has been striving to create favorable conditions,
in such ways as offering to resume individual tourism to
Mount Geumgang and business people’s visits to the Gaeseong
Industrial Complex.”
･ “The North’s announcement
today is a regression to a time before the signing of the
June 15 Joint Declaration in 2000 and is a clear violation
of South Korean nationals’ property rights.”
･ “The
North should take due responsibility for its actions. The
ROK government urges the North to stop taking further
actions that exacerbate the situation.” |
| June 17. | - ROK
Minister of Unification Kim Yeon Chul expresses his
intention to resign (15:00).
|
| June 17. | - Kim Son Gyong,
vice-minister for European Affairs of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of the DPRK, makes comment in response to a
statement by the European External Action Service.
･
“On June 16, a spokesperson for the European External Action
Service condemned the demolition of the inter-Korean joint
liaison office and called for Pyeongyang to stop escalating
tensions on the Korean Peninsula. The North considers the
statement unacceptable.” |
| June 19. | - The ROK holds a
farewell ceremony for the 40th Minister of Unification.
･ “Inter-Korean relations have deteriorated markedly,
and the situation is a full-blown crisis. The two Koreas are
now trading feelings of disappointment and hatred, but I can
state emphatically that hatred can never be defeated by
hatred.” |
| June 20. |
- A spokesperson for the United Front
Department of the WPK Central Committee issues a statement.
･ “(Regarding leaflets against the South) We have no
intention of reconsidering or changing our plan to scatter
the leaflets. The inter-Korean agreement (Panmunjeom
Declaration) had been already reduced to a dead document,
and North Korea’s leaflet scattering will not be bound by
any agreement or principle.” |
| June 20. | - North Korea
pushes for scattering millions of leaflets against the
South.
|
| June 23. | - The North holds a preliminary meeting
for the fifth meeting of the Seventh Central Military
Commission of the WPK (video conferencing).
･ “Kim
Jong Un, chairman of the Central Committee of the WPK and
chairman of the Central Military Commission of the WPK,
presided over the meeting.”
･ “In the meeting, the
Central Military Commission took stock of the latest
situation and suspended military action plans against South
Korea mapped out at the fifth meeting of the 7th Central
Military Commission of the WPK.” |
| June 24. | - Kim Yong Chol,
vice-chairman of the Central Committee of the WPK, issues a
statement.
･ “At a critical moment when the North can
predict the prospects of cross-border ties based on the
South’s future attitude and approach, the South Korean
defense minister is busy trying to save face and bluff
unnecessarily. We express strong regret over his frivolous
and foolish acts.”
･ “Although this may seem like a
threat, nothing will turn out favorably when our suspension
becomes reconsideration.” |
| June 25. | - ROK President
Moon Jae-in gives his speech on the occasion of the 70th
anniversary of the Korean War.
･ “The two Koreas’
competition over political and economic systems already
ended a long time ago. We do not have any intention of
forcing our system onto the North. We pursue peace and
intend to live well together. We will continue to search for
routes that are mutually beneficial for both Koreas through
peace. Before speaking of reunification, I hope that we can
become friendly neighbors first.” |
| June 29. | - The ROK
government holds a hearing to revoke corporate licenses of
civic groups involved in the scattering of anti-North Korean
leaflets and plastic bottles.
|
