| September 5. | - North Korea
holds the meeting of the Executive Policy Council of the
Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea
(WPK).
･ The meeting, presided over by Chairman Kim
Jong Un, heard the briefing on the damage from a typhoon,
discussed ways to repair the damage in South and North
Hamgyeong provinces, and determined specific measures.
|
| September 8. | - North Korea holds the 6th meeting of the
7th Central Military Commission of the WPK Central
Committee.
･ The meeting, presided over by Chairman
Kim Jong Un, discussed measures to recover from the damage
from Typhoon Maysak in Geomdeok, South Hamgyeong
Province. |
| September 7-9. |
- The ROK Ministry of Unification
holds the Korea Global Forum for Peace (KGFP) 2020.
･
Unification Minister Lee said, “I plan to promote
‘small-scale approaches’ so as to resume humanitarian
assistance and exchange and cooperation, restart dialogue
between the two Koreas, and implement the agreements made by
the two Koreas one by one… We need to open a new era of
complete, verifiable, and irreversible peace led by the two
Koreas while cooperating with the international
community.” |
| September 16. |
- ROK Unification Minister Lee
In-young holds a press conference in Panmunjeom.
･
“The historical decision and agreement by the leaders of the
two Koreas was truly groundbreaking. The Pyeongyang Joint
Declaration and the Agreement on the Implementation of the
Historic Panmunjeom Declaration in the Military Domain
(Inter-Korean Military Agreement) have done a great deal
toward preventing military conflicts.” |
| September 19. |
- South Korea marks the second anniversary of the
Pyeongyang Joint Declaration.
･ President Moon Jae-in
said, “The summit agreement must be implemented without
fail. Historically, nothing happens without a reason. A seed
sown in history is certain to bear fruit no matter when or
how.” |
| September 23. |
- ROK President Moon Jae-in gives a
keynote speech at the 75th session of the United Nations
General Assembly.
･ “The South and the North are
bound by a single community of life, intertwined by
mountains, rivers, and seas stretching across the two sides.
When one is exposed to an infectious disease or natural
disaster, so is the other, requiring the two to cooperate to
overcome these challenges. Inter-Korean cooperation in
disease control and prevention and public health will also
trigger dialogue and cooperation in the process of building
a peaceful Korean Peninsula.”
･ “So far, I have
spoken about a peace economy that benefits both Koreas and
makes everyone prosperous and emphasized the need for
inter-Korean cooperation in disaster response and
healthcare. Hoping that the international community views
the issues surrounding the Korean Peninsula through the lens
of more inclusive international cooperation, I propose today
launching a Northeast Asia Cooperation Initiative for
Infectious Disease Control and Public Health, whereby North
Korea participates as a member along with China, Japan,
Mongolia, and the Republic of Korea. A cooperative
architecture that guarantees collective protection of life
and safety will lay the groundwork for North Korea to have
its security guaranteed by engaging with the international
community.” |
| September 23. |
- The South notifies the North that
a South Korean citizen went missing and asks it to find
related facts.
･ A South Korean citizen went missing
on September 21. |
| September
24. | - The ROK military issues
its position on the death of a South Korean citizen.
･ “At around 13:00 on September 21, our military received a
report from the Maritime Police Agency that a crew member of
the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries was missing, 1.2 miles
south of Soyeonpyeong Island. The missing fishery guidance
official, Mr. A, was conducting fishing guidance on a marine
fishing guidance vessel near Soyeonpyeong Island on
September 21. As a result of thorough analysis of various
intelligences, our military confirmed that North Korea fired
shots at a South Korean found in the North Korean waters and
burned his body. The South Korean military firmly condemns
such atrocities and strongly urges North Korea to clarify
the specifics of the incident and punish those responsible.
In addition, we sternly warn that North Korea is responsible
for all the atrocities committed against our people.”
|
| September 24. | - The Standing Committee of the National
Security Council of South Korea issues a statement.
･
“The government expresses deep mourning
regarding the death at the hands of the North Korean
military of a fisheries official who went missing in the
waters near Yeonpyeong Island on September 21. We also
express the
following position:
･ The North could not justify
shooting our unarmed citizen who showed no sign of
resistance and burning his body for any reason. Our
government strongly condemns the act of the North Korean
military, which runs counter to international law and
humanitarianism. North Korea must assume sole responsibility
for this incident and completely get to the bottom of what
happened while punishing those responsible. The North should
apologize and take active measures to prevent similar
incidents from occurring again. Our government will increase
vigilance along the inter-Korean maritime border and take
all necessary measures to protect the safety of the South
Korean public. It will sternly respond to any acts by the
North that threaten the life and safety of its
citizens.” |
| September 24. |
- The ROK Ministry of Unification
issues a statement on the killing of a South Korean citizen
near Yeonpyeong Island.
･ “The Ministry of
Unification deeply regrets that a fisheries official who had
gone missing in waters off Yeonpyeong Island was shot and
killed by North Korean troops on September 21. The Ministry
firmly condemns the North Korean military’s shooting of an
unarmed South Korean citizen and setting his body on fire as
an act against humanity that cannot be justified for any
reason. The Ministry sternly protests that such North Korean
act pours cold water all over our steadfast patience and
efforts toward reconciliation and peace between the two
Koreas and is also dead against the Korean people’s yearning
for peace on the Korean Peninsula. The Ministry strongly
urges the North to declare who committed the act and to take
all possible measures to prevent recurrence.”
|
| September 25. |
- Suh Hoon, director of the National Security Office,
discloses a message sent from North Korea during a press
briefing.
September
25, 2020
To the Blue House
As your side reported, an
incident occurred in coastal waters of Geumdong-ri, Gangryeong
County, South Hwanghae Province, on the evening of September
22 in which an unidentified individual was shot to death
(presumed) by our soldiers after illegally trespassing deep
into our territorial waters.
The investigation of the incident found that our
military unit in charge of security in the corresponding
waters went to the scene after receiving a report from a
fishing boat of our fishery complex that they had found an
unidentified man during fishing operations. The troops
approached the illegal intruder aboard a floating material in
our territorial waters to a distance of 80 meters and asked
him to identify himself. He did not respond properly to our
verbal security checks, only saying that he was from the
Republic of Korea once or twice.
As he continued to fail to respond, our troops
approached closer to him and fired two blank rounds. He was
surprised and lay with his face down. It is said that he
appeared to flee. Some soldiers said that they saw him try to
cover himself with something while lying face down.
Our troops fired some ten rounds of gunfire at the
illegal intruder, based on a decision made by the chief of our
patrol boat and in line with service regulations of maritime
border security. The gunshots were fired at a distance of 40
to 50 meters.
After the shooting, there was no movement
or sound, so our troops approached to a distance of near 10
meters to conduct a search, but the unidentified man was not
on the floating material; only a lot of blood was confirmed.
Our military concluded that the illegal intruder had been shot
and killed and burned his floatable device on the spot
according to our national emergency disease prevention
regulations.
The above is the investigation results that have been
briefed to our leadership to date.
We cannot help but express great regrets over
the fact that South Korea had used profane and confrontational
language including “brutality” or “paying the price,” simply
based on wild speculation without asking for our account of a
crackdown on an illegal intruder and the crackdown process.
Our leadership said that something that should not have
happened occurred. An order has been handed down to establish
a system to record all the border enforcement processes in the
waters so as to prevent a trivial mistake or anything from
causing a big misunderstanding while increasing vigilance in
the waters to prevent a repeat of the unfortunate incident.
We are sorry that an incident that would have an
uninteresting effect on the relationship between the North and
the South happened on our side of the waters. Our leadership
emphasized repeatedly that we stay more alert, become more aware, and
take necessary safety measures so as to not destroy the little
trust and respect recently built between the two Koreas due to
this regrettable incident.
Comrade Chairman Kim Jong Un asked to convey the
message that he feels very sorry that instead of giving aid to
our compatriots in the South, who are struggling with the
COVID epidemic, we have given President Moon and our
compatriots in the South a great disappointment with this
unexpected misfortune in our territorial waters.
We ask for your exact understanding of the incident.
United Front Department
of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of
Korea. |
| September 25 | - Suh Hoon, director of the National
Security Office, discloses the letters exchanged between the
leaders of the two Koreas during a press briefing.
Text
of a letter from President Moon Jae-in
September 8, 2020
His Excellency
Kim Jong Un
Chairman of the State Affairs Commission
of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
Dear Mr. Chairman:
Amid a long and painful struggle against the
coronavirus, we even had to face heavy rains and several
typhoons, causing great hardship to both of us.
I feel sympathy as I see you making visits to
disaster-stricken sites, comforting the victims, and
initiating recovery work.
I send my special respects for your strong
determination to respect lives.
Collapsed houses can be rebuilt, disconnected bridges
can be reconnected, and fallen rice plants can be set upright
again, but people’s lives are an absolute value that cannot be
restored and cannot be traded with anything else.
Protecting the lives and safety of our 80 million
compatriots is the most fundamental thing to do in any
challenge or difficulty.
Although it is regrettable that both sides can’t help
each other even in the current precarious situation, as
compatriots, we are united to cheer for each other and
overcome the difficulties together.
I truly hope that as you wish, compatriots in the North
will overcome all the challenges as soon as possible.
I wish you and your families the best of health.
Sincerely yours.
Moon Jae-in
President of the Republic of Korea Text
of a letter from Chairman Kim Jong Un
September 12, 2020
His Excellency
Moon Jae-in
President
of the Republic of Korea
Dear Mr. President:
I received your letter well. It was touching. I felt
brotherly love by finding your sincere consolation in every
sentence. I gratefully accepted your warm heart.
I would love to take this opportunity to send
unpretentious sincerity to you and our compatriots in the
South. When I heard the news about the persistent spread of
COVID-19 and damage from a series of typhoons in the South, I
came to think of you the President who would overcome the
grave burden on your own while meeting the challenges that no
one can bear on behalf of you.
I think I understand better than any other person how
much trouble you have, how heavy the pressure is, and how hard
you work to overcome the obstacles.
No matter how hard it is, I firmly believe that you
will overcome the crisis with your extraordinary sincerity
toward your state and people, strong determination, and
ability.
I hope to share the difficulties and agony that the
South is suffering.
I will wait for the day to come when the terrible
moments of this year pass by quickly and a series of good
things will happen.
I am always concerned that you focus on fulfilling your
heavy responsibilities and might forget to take care of your
health. I ask you to pay particular attention to your health.
I once again eagerly wish that southern compatriots’
precious health and happiness will be kept. I sincerely wish
for everyone’s well-being.
I wish President Moon Jae-in and the First Lady the
best of good health.
Kim Jong Un
Chairman of the State Affairs Commission
of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
|
| September 25. |
- The South issues the results of the meeting of the
Standing Committee of the National Security Council.
･ “Since there are differences between the account revealed
in the message from the North dated September 25 and our
account based on our intelligence, we will continue to
investigate the incident to identify the facts. In this
regard, we decided to request the North to conduct further
investigation and a joint probe if needed. We will take
measures to strengthen vigilance in the West Sea to prevent
a similar incident from occurring again.” |
| September 27. |
- North Korea warns the South over a maritime search
operation.
|
| September 27. |
- Suh Choo-suk, deputy director of
the National Security Office, speaks on the results of an
emergency security ministers’ meeting chaired by President
Moon Jae-in.
･ 1. The government well regards the
North’s speedy apology and promise to prevent the recurrence
of a similar case.
･ 2. There are differences in the
two sides’ accounts of what happened in connection with the
fatal shooting of the 47-year-old man by North Korean troops
near the disputed western sea border last week. Therefore,
the government requested a joint investigation aimed at
finding related facts as soon as possible with an open mind
without being restricted by the results previously announced
by each side. It called for the restoration and reopening of
the military communication line between the two sides for
relevant consultations and exchange of information.
･
3. We must do our utmost to retrieve the official’s body and
belongings to help find the truth behind the case and in
humanitarian consideration of his bereaved family members.
The South and the North should do all they can in their
search efforts in each side’s waters and cooperate through
exchange of information if needed.
･ 4. We asked the
Chinese authorities and fishing vessels operating near the
inter-Korean sea border to help with the work of retrieving
the body and belongings. |
| September 28. | - President
Moon Jae-in makes opening remarks at a meeting with his
senior secretaries.
･ “The North Korean authorities
promptly apologized and promised to take action to prevent a
recurrence of similar incidents by sending a message just a
day after our government requested a responsible answer and
measures. We have noted the North’s expression of clear intent
to avoid
inter-Korean relations being drawn into an irreversible
situation by exacerbating the circumstances.”
･ “In
particular, we find it extraordinarily meaningful that
Chairman Kim Jong Un conveyed a message that expressed great sorrow to
our people. It is the first time – and highly unusual – for
North Korea’s supreme leader to promptly issue a direct
apology.”
･ “What stands out as the most regrettable
part of this incident is that the inter-Korean military
communication line has been severed. Only when contact and
communication is maintained through the inter-Korean
military communication line can inadvertent military
conflicts or unexpected incidents or accidents be prevented
during emergencies. Likewise, cooperation with rescue
operations can also be smoothly conducted should South or
North Korean people or ships at sea go adrift. As a first
step, I ask the North to restore and reactivate at least the
military communication line.” |
| September 29. | - North
Korea holds the 18th meeting of the Political Bureau of the
7th Central Committee of the WPK.
･ The meeting,
presided over by Chairman Kim Jong Un, discussed ways to
carry out the nationwide emergency anti-epidemic work more
intensely; examined the Party and state works on the
occasion of the 75th founding anniversary of the WPK and the
progress in damage repair; and discussed and decided the
relevant organizational measures to successfully carry out
those works. |
