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During his first visit to North Korea following his appointment, South Korean Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul (left, front row) meets with Kim Yong-chol, North Korea’s temporary deputy director of the joint liaison office on May 8. (provided by the Ministry of Unification)
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Kim Yeon-chul takes first visit to inter-Korean joint liaison office in Kaesong
Minister of Unification Kim Yeon-chul met with North Korean officials in his first visit to the inter-Korean joint liaison office at Kaesong since taking on his position.
Kim reportedly underscored the need to “normalize” the office’s functions, while the North Korean side was described as showing a “firm commitment” to honoring the terms of inter-Korean agreements.
“I talked about faithfully implementing the inter-Korean joint declarations and normalizing the functions of the liaison office,” Kim told reporters at the Dorasan inter-Korean immigration office in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, following his visit to the Kaesong joint liaison office on the morning of May 8.
“The North Korean side actively agreed and said it was ‘firmly committed to honoring the inter-Korean joint declarations,’” he added. Inter-Korean meetings between liaison office chiefs had been scheduled for every week after the joint liaison office was opened on Sept. 14 of last year, but none have taken place since Feb. 22.
Speaking the same day on the issue of humanitarian aid to North Korea, Kim said he planned to “call a meeting to make preparations for what specifically the Ministry of Unification should do in connection with the telephone conversation between the South Korean and US leaders.” The remarks indicated that he planned to hold internal ministry meetings and discussions with other relevant ministries following the Ministry of Unification’s official decision that day to pursue humanitarian aid to the North.
“We will make an announcement [on the details of North Korean food aid] following a comprehensive review,” Kim said.
Kim traveled around the Kaesong Complex in a vehicle that day, but “did not go [inside] personally,” he said. When asked by reporters whether approval would be granted for a ninth application by Kaesong Industrial Complex tenant business officials to visit North Korea, Kim said he would “make a decision after careful consideration.”
By Noh Ji-won, staff reporter
Please direct comments or questions to [english@hani.co.kr]
