| October
1. | - North Korea’s Academy of
National Defense Science test-fires a new type of
anti-aircraft missile.
･ “The test was intended to
confirm the practicality of operation of the launcher,
radar, and all-purpose battle command vehicle, as well as
the comprehensive combat performance of the missile.”
･ “The remarkable combat performance of the new-type
anti-aircraft missile, which features the rapid
responsiveness and guidance accuracy of a missile control
system as well as a substantially greater range, has been
verified. The overall test is of very practical significance
in studying and developing various prospective anti-aircraft
missile systems.” |
| October
4. | - The inter-Korean
communication lines are restored.
※ North Korea reported the restoration of
inter-Korean communication lines (October 4).
o
“Appropriate organizations decided to restore all the
North-South communication lines at 9:00 on Oct. 4.”
o
“The South Korean authorities should make positive efforts
to put the North-South ties on the right track and settle
the important tasks which must be prioritized to open up
bright prospects, bearing deep in mind the meaning of the
restoration of the communication lines.” |
| October 6. | - South
Korea approves three requests by non-governmental
organizations to ship humanitarian supplies to North
Korea.
|
| October 11. |
- The Defense Development Exhibition
“Self-Defense 2021” opens and Chairman Kim Jong Un gives a
speech.
･ “This attempt by South Korea is too
dangerous to be left to itself, but what is more dangerous
is its justification for modernizing its armaments and its
hypocritical and brigandish double-dealing attitude.”
･ “While doing whatever they want, the South Korean
authorities, with a view to depriving us of our
self-defensive right to develop defense capability,
volunteer to lead the anti-DPRK propaganda campaign of the
hostile forces headed by the United States, wantonly
labelling even our tests of conventional weapons as armed
provocations, threats, and inappropriate deeds aggravating
tensions.”
･ “We express deep regret over such
avaricious ambition and their double-dealing, illogical, and
brigandish attitude that causes unfairness to and hurts the
feelings of the other side; we will never ever tolerate but
respond with powerful action if they continue to infringe
upon even our right to self-defense in the future.”
･
“But, if South Korea does not find fault with us in a
stubborn manner and if it does not pick a quarrel even with
our exercise of national sovereignty, I assure that no
tensions will be caused on the Korean Peninsula. Were it not
for that, we would not be involved in verbal confrontation
with South Korea nor have any reason to be so. I want to
reiterate that South Korea is not the target of our armed
forces. Undoubtedly, we are not strengthening our defense
capability targeting South Korea. The dreadful history of
having recourse to arms against fellow countrymen must not
be repeated on this land.”
･ “Our archenemy is war
itself, not South Korea, the United States, or any other
specific state or forces.”
･ “Therefore, as I stated
in the recent policy speech, all I want is that the
authorities and the whole society of South Korea, in their
viewpoint towards the North, get rid of their outdated and
anachronistic worry and anxiety and illusory sense of
mission that the North’s threat should be contained, and
free themselves from the excessive crisis-consciousness and
persecution complex as soon as possible.”
･
“Recently, the United States has frequently sent signals
that it is not hostile to our state, but its behaviors
provide us with no reason why we should believe them.”
･ “However, none of our external efforts for
achieving peace ever means the abandonment of our right to
self-defense.” |
| October
12. | - ROK National Security
Advisor Suh Hoon visits the U.S. and meets with his U.S.
counterpart Jake Sullivan.
|
| October 16-19. | - South
Korea’s Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace
and Security Affairs visits the U.S. and has discussions
with U.S. and Japanese chief nuclear negotiators.
|
| October 19. |
- U.S. Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines
visits South Korea and has a meeting with his South Korean
and Japanese counterparts.
|
| October 19. | - North Korea
test-fires a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM)
from coastal waters of Sinpo, South Hamgyeong Province into
the East Sea at 10:17.
|
| October 20. | - North
Korea’s Academy of National Defense Science test-fires a
new-type submarine-launched ballistic missile (October 19).
･ The test-launch was guided by Yu Jin, department
director of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of
Korea (WPK), and Kim Jong Sik, vice department director of
the Munitions Industry of the Central Committee of the WPK.
･ “The Academy of National Defense Science presented
a report of loyalty to the Party Central Committee with the
pride and honor of succeeding in the test-launch of a
new-type SLBM from the same ‘8.24 Yongung’ ship from which
the first submarine-launched strategic ballistic missile was
successfully launched five years ago to demonstrate the
military muscle of the DPRK.” |
| October 22. | - Interactive
Dialogue with Tomás Ojea Quintana, the Special Rapporteur on
the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s
Republic of Korea.
･ “The North Korean authorities
have taken harsh measures to prevent the influx of COVID-19
and sometimes to kill those who try to cross the border. The
border blockade and stricter movement control have greatly
disrupted the North Koreans’ market activities, which are
essential for securing daily necessities such as food. I
have the greatest concern about North Koreans’ access to
food. The North Koreans should not face the dilemma of
having to choose between fear of hunger and fear of corona.”
･ “I have recommended that, especially under the
circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Security Council
sanctions committee should re-evaluate the sanctions regime
and when necessary, ease those sanctions that bring these
obstacles. I made a clear point, not only about the
humanitarian assistance operations but also about the
overall possibility of ordinary people to make their
livelihood, for example, if you talk about those sectoral
sanctions against the exports of textiles or seafood.”
･ “The ban on imports of oil, machinery, and parts
clearly affected North Korea’s energy security, private
transportation, agriculture, medical care, and hygiene. The
expert panel of the Security Council’s sanctions committee
on North Korea did not acknowledge this part, but I would
continue to speak out.”
･ “It is a paradox that the
North Korean government continues to conduct missile tests
and probably diverts resources amid the worsening of social
and economic rights in North Korea.” |
| October 23-24. | - Sung
Kim, the U.S. Special Representative for North Korea visits
South Korea and meets with his South Korean
counterpart.
|
| October 25. |
- ROK President Moon Jae-in gives a
speech at the National Assembly to propose a Government
Budget for 2022.
･ “The North Korean nuclear crisis
was taken as an opportunity to turn the situation around and
open the door to peace. Three rounds of inter-Korean summits
and the first U.S.-North Korea summit ever were brought
about, creating a breakthrough for peace. Dialogue remains
incomplete. We will work hard until the end to establish a
new order to bring peace and prosperity to the Korean
Peninsula through dialogue and diplomacy.” |
| October 28-November 5. | - ROK President Moon Jae-in has a trip to
Europe including Italy, Britain and Hungary.
< Meeting with Pope Francis (October 29) >
･
President Moon Jae-in had a one-on-one meeting with Pope
Francis during his official visit to the Vatican and
confirmed the consistent support of His Holiness for peace
on the Korean Peninsula.
･ At the meeting held in the
Apostolic Palace, President Moon said, “If Your Holiness has
the opportunity and pays a visit to North Korea, it will
build momentum for peace on the Korean Peninsula.
･
Pope Francis said if he received an invitation, he would
gladly visit the North for the sake of helping the Koreans
and the cause of peace. He went on to say that South and
North Koreans are brothers who speak the same language and
that he would willingly go.
< Watching the
Exhibition “Barbed Wire, Heralds of Peace” in Rome (October
29) >
･ “Following the inauguration of my
Administration, dialogue between the two Koreas resumed;
military agreements were reached; and the South and the
North agreed to stop acts of hostility – significantly
easing military tensions and promoting peace to this
extent.”
･ “In addition to that meaning, the crosses
today now contain the desire of many separated families in
both Koreas to return to their hometowns and meet relatives.
They also hold the earnest wish and prayer of the people of
the Republic of Korea to end the war for good and for the
two Koreas to live in peace from this time forth.”
･
“If the barbed wire along the Military Demarcation Line and
the DMZ is removed, and the war between the two Koreas is
permanently ended, international organizations in both
Koreas could relocate their offices there. U.N. peace
organizations could set up headquarters there and the two
Koreas establish liaison offices. By doing so, the now
barbed wire-filled DMZ could be transformed into a truly
international peace zone.”
< Meeting with
U.S. President Joe Biden prior to attending the official
welcoming ceremony for the G20 Summit (October 30) >
･ President Moon said he was also pleased to meet
with the U.S. President and added, “I heard about your
meeting with Pope Francis. I also had a private audience
with His Holiness yesterday. He prayed for peace on the
Korean Peninsula and said that, if invited, he would visit
North Korea.”
･ President Biden called that welcome
news and said President Moon is making progress in resolving
Korean Peninsula issues. |
| October 31. | - South Korean
Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong meets with U.S. Secretary of
State Antony J. Blinken on the margins of
the G-20 Summit in Rome.
|
