Kim Yeon-cheol "Promote Inter-Korean Railway and Tourism Cooperation"... Criticizes Staff to "Break Away from Clich?s"

Minister of Unification's 2020 New Year's Address "Seeking Progress in Inter-Korean Relations"
To Staff: "Reflect on Whether You Are Settling for Precedents and Old Habits"

Kim Yeon-cheol, Minister of Unification

Minister of Unification Kim Yeon-cheol announced on the 2nd that he will seek active cooperation in railway and road connection projects and the tourism sector to advance inter-Korean relations in 2020.

At the Unification Ministry's New Year's ceremony held at the Seoul Government Complex annex, Minister Kim said, "We cannot afford to spend this year, which marks the 20th anniversary of the June 15th North-South Joint Declaration, as a year of deadlock."

He emphasized, "We must restore trust in inter-Korean relations to secure space. Only then can we prepare for a permanent peace regime and a future of joint prosperity between the North and South alongside denuclearization negotiations."

To this end, Minister Kim proposed promoting multifaceted inter-Korean cooperation projects. He first stated, "We must continuously seek opportunities for cooperation in the Demilitarized Zone and border areas, which are the waist of the Korean Peninsula, in connecting railways and roads linking the North and South as well as the continent and the ocean, and in the tourism sector where North Korea is focusing."

He added, "To diversify the links between the North and South, we must actively support exchanges and cooperation at the local government and private levels."

He particularly stressed the importance of resolving the separated families issue. Minister Kim said, "Last year alone, more than 3,000 separated family members passed away without resolving their sorrow of separation," and added, "The 'fundamental resolution of the separated families issue' agreed upon by the North and South Korean leaders in 2018 must be achieved this year through utmost efforts."

He also emphasized multilateral cooperation beyond just North and South Korea. He said, "An international cooperation model involving the two Koreas and a third country is also possible," and added, "Inter-Korean-Chinese and inter-Korean-Russian cooperation projects will greatly contribute to expanding our economic horizons."

Minister Kim also criticized Unification Ministry staff to break away from 'clich?s.'

He said, "As we enter the new year, I want to urge you, the staff of the Unification Ministry, to break away from 'clich?s,'" and continued, "The world is rapidly changing, so we must reflect on whether we are complacent with precedents and old customs," urging, "We need bold and innovative 'new thinking.'"

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.