| August 1-26 (local) | 10th NPT Evaluation Conference (New York) |
| August 3-4. | The US Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi,
visited
･ Bilateral talks with Chairman of the National
Assembly Kim Jin-pyo (August 4), Talks with the President of ROK
on the phone (August 4), visit the JSA (August 4), etc. |
| August 4. | North Korea announced 0 COVID-19 patients
(Korean Central News Agency· Rodong Sinmun) |
| August 5. | Unification Ministry met US Ambassador to the
Republic of Korea Philip Goldberg |
| August 10. | North
Korea held a general meeting for the national emergency of
epidemic control and changed the emergency status to ‘normal
epidemic control with intensified attention’.
(August 11,
Korean Central News Agency· Rodong Sinmun) [Remarks
by Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un of North Korea]
･ “The
Communist Party and the North Korean Government lowers the
highest emergency epidemic control status, which started on
May 12, to the normal epidemic control status with intensified
attention from today.”
[Discussion by Kim
Yo-jong, the Deputy Department Director of the Publicity and
Information Department of the Workers’ Party of Korea]
･
“If the enemies continue the dangerous acts, which may deliver
the virus to our Republic, we will answer by exterminating
South Korean authorities as well as the virus.”
･ “It’s
time for us to change our awareness against our enemies and
South Korea.” |
| August
11-12. | The UN Secretary-General
Guterres visited Korea
･ In the meeting with the President
of ROK (August 12), UN Secretary-General Guterres ‘expressed the
thorough support for CVID, complete, the verifiable and
irreversible denuclearization of North Korea’. " Such a
goal is important for achieving the region's security, peace,
and stability.” [Talks
by Kim Seon-gyeong, the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs for
International Organizations (August 14)]
O “There is no
other meaning except that the UN Secretary-General agrees with
the hostile policy of America and its followers against North
Korea and his behavior was not suitable based on his
position.”
O “The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
requests that UN Secretary-General Guterres be prudent in
dangerous speech and behavior, as he is pouring oil over fire
rather than helping to solve problems at this moment when the
situation on the Korean peninsula is extremely nervous.”
|
| August 15. | President Yoon Suk-yeol of the ROK delivered
congratulatory remarks for the 77th anniversary of Independence
Day and proposed the ‘dauntless idea’.
･ “Peace in the
Korean peninsula and Northeast Asia is the important
prerequisite for the world peace and will become the basis to
protect and expand the freedom of global citizens as well as
Koreans.”
･ “Denuclearization of North Korea is essential
for sustainable peace in the world as well as in the Korean
peninsula and Northeast Asia.”
･ “I propose the
‘dauntless idea’, which can innovatively solve economic and
livelihood issues in North Korea at this moment if North Korea
stops nuclear development and starts the process of practical
denuclearization.”
･ “I promise to implement large-scale
food supply programs for North Korea, harbor and airport
modernization projects for international trade, technology
support programs for improving agricultural productivity,
international investment and financial support programs, support
infrastructure for power generation, transmission and
distribution, and the modernization of hospitals and the medical
infrastructure.” |
| August 17.
| North Korea launched cruise missiles
toward the West Sea from Oncheon district, Pyeongannam-do,
twice. |
| August 17. | President Yoon Suk-yeol had a press meeting on
the 100th day since his inauguration (related to inter-Korean
relations) [Introductory
Remarks]
･ “I proposed the ‘dauntless idea’, including
political, economic, and military support in case North Korea
stops nuclear development as in the congratulatory remarks to
celebrate Independence Day on August 15. I announced the
comprehensive idea including diplomatic support to normalize
US-North Korea relations, discussion on the reduction of
conventional weapon systems, food, agricultural technology,
medicine, and infrastructure support, and financial and
international investment support.”
･ “The Government
should get thoroughly and fully ready for security without
allowing even a hair to be out of place to protect residents'
life and property. The sovereignty of Korea is not a subject
of compromise anymore. The Government makes every endeavor to
identify the truth related to the death of the government
employee in the West Sea and the forced repatriation of North
Korean fishermen to North Korea and to regain the honor of the
victims. Furthermore, the Government keeps the universal
values, that are, freedom, human rights, and law.”
[Q&A] ･ “From the election process, I emphasized
the necessity of talks with North Korea. However, inter-Korean
summits or working-level talks and negotiation shall not be
political showoff but help to practically secure peace on the
Korean peninsula and in Northeast Asia.”
･ “I will
support whatever is required only if (North Korea) shows a
definite resolution for denuclearization. It’s different from
requirements.” “The Government doesn’t want any unreasonable
and forced change of the status in North Korea.”
･ “I
will protect the NPT system if the existing system does not
suppress the nuclear threat from North Korea.” |
| August 18. | Kim Yo-jong, the Deputy Department Director of
the Publicity and Information Department of the Workers’ Party
of Korea, announced a statement related to the ‘dauntless idea’
(August 19, Korean Central News Agency· Rodong Sinmun)
･
“The is the utmost in stupidity and far from reality, like an
absurd intention to make a mulberry field by drying the dark
blue ocean.”
[Opinion
of Ministry of Unification (August 19)]
O The Ministry
of Unification expressed concern about North
Korea announcing the will to continue nuclear development
while criticizing the President of ROK using rude expressions and distorting
the ‘dauntless idea’ of South Korea instead of responding to
the idea.
O Such an attitude of North Korea will cause
aggravation of global isolation and the serious economic
situation of North Korea, as well as threaten peace on the
Korean peninsula.
O The Ministry of Unification requests
North Korea to recognize and deliberate the ‘dauntless idea’
of South Korea as a matter directly related to peace on the
Korean peninsula, inter-Korean relations, and the future of
North Korea.
[Opinion of the Executive Office of
the President (August 19)]
O The Executive Office of the
President expresses very serious concern on the intention of
North Korea to continue nuclear development and distort the
‘dauntless idea’ of South Korea and continue rude remarks
using the name of the President.
O Such an attitude of
North Korea doesn’t help peace and prosperity on the Korean
peninsula as well as the future of North Korea but accelerates
the isolation of North Korea from international society.
\O The Executive Office of the President never changes
its position to promote the advancement of inter-Korean
relations and the denuclearization of North Korea through the
‘dauntless idea’ and requests North Korea to act prudently and
deliberately. |
| August
19. | Talks of the Foreign Affairs
Minister between Korea and the US (press release by the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs)
･ “The Foreign Affairs Ministers of
both countries had follow-up discussions related to the
‘dauntless idea’ proposed by President Yoon Suk-yeol of the ROK
in the congratulatory remarks for Independence Day, and US
Foreign Affairs Minister Blinken reconfirmed strong
support for the ‘dauntless idea’.”
･ “Both Ministers
expressed concern on the statement by Kim Yo-jong, the Deputy
Department Director of the Publicity and Information Department
of the Workers’ Party of Korea. Furthermore, both Ministers
agreed to promote the diplomatic efforts without hesitation to
make North Korea stop provoking and return to denuclearization
talks through close cooperation with the international
communities and strengthening the US-ROK joint defense
position.” |
| August 22-September
1. | US-ROK Joint Military Exercise
(UFS: Ulchi Freedom Shield) |
|
August 25. | 1st North Korea
Human Rights Policy Council held (press release by Ministry of
Unification) |
| August 26
(Local) | The final declaration in
the 10th NPT Evaluation Meeting (August 1-26. New York) was not
adopted due to the objection by Russia. |
| August 29-September 3. | Elizabeth Salmon, the UN Special Rapporteur on
Human Rights Situations in North Korea, visited Korea |
