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South Korean Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul
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Kim Yeon-chul discusses SK-US efforts to resume negotiations with N. Korea
Minister of Unification Kim Yeon-chul described the overall political situation on the Korean Peninsula as being in a “kind of a lull” in remarks on May 21. Speaking at his first official press conference with Unification Ministry press corps since taking office at the AW Convention Center in Seoul’s Jongno district, Kim said, “South Korea and the US agree on the need to manage the situation and are exchanging different views toward the resumption of negotiations.” In connection with this, a senior ministry official said, “While it’s difficult to gauge how long the period of adjustment will last, managing the situation is important at the current stage.” As reasons for the “period of adjustment” persisting, the official pointed to the “results of the Hanoi [North Korea-US] summit” – where the failure to achieve an agreement has resulted in intensifying conflict – and “changes to the North’s internal organization.” The official also hinted at functional difficulties in the “behind-the-scenes channel” between the South Korean National Intelligence Service (NIS) and North Korea’s United Front Department (UDP). “We don’t have a separate formal and public channel and a behind-the-scenes channel,” the official said. At the same time, the official said, “With negotiations, it’s all about timing.” “Right now is a time for us to be patient while managing the situation internally and making preparations,” the official stressed. Stressing that the “pressing issue facing the Ministry of Unification concerns humanitarian aid,” Kim Yeon-chul explained that humanitarian aid “is a principle of humanitarianism, no more, no less.” “It is both the universal consensus of the international community and the basic principle of this administration that it should be pursued separately from politics,” he emphasized. Kim indirectly stressed his commitment to food and other humanitarian aid to North Korea, noting that “even the UN Security Council resolutions [sanctioning] North Korea include content stating that they must not be allowed to inhibit activity by humanitarian aid groups.” He also referred to former US President Ronald Reagan’s remark that “a hungry child knows no politics.” He went on to say, “The President has also talked about the need for an ‘opportunity for support from the National Assembly’ in terms of the timing, scale, and methods [of humanitarian aid], and the Ministry of Unification is also gathering opinions at different levels.” While the administration officially announced plans on May 17 to examine food aid to the North, a senior Ministry of Unification official was up front about the lack of any related discussions yet between South and North Korean authorities. “The opportunity to discuss that [with the North] has not yet been made available,” the official said. A senior ministry official also alluded to a lack of progress in discussions by South and North Korean authorities on the issue of a North Korea visit by Kaesong Industrial Complex businesspeople to “check their property,” which the administration approved on May 17. “When the administration says ‘we’re continuing to discuss it’ or ‘we’re working on it,’ you should read between the lines,” the official said. By Noh Ji-won, staff reporter, and Lee Je-hun, senior staff writer Please direct comments or questions to [english@hani.co.kr]
