Minister Kang Kyung-wha: "No Unusual North Korean Activity... Observed to Be Focusing on Internal Management"

National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee Current Affairs Report... Minister Kang "Closely Monitoring Foreign Policy Trends Considering North Korea's Internal Personnel Reorganization"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha stated that there have been no unusual developments observed within North Korea regarding rumors about the health of Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea.

Minister Kang said during a briefing to the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee on the 28th, "Although Kim Jong-un has not made any public appearances since attending the Politburo meeting on the 11th, despite recent reports, no unusual developments have been observed within North Korea."

She added, "Considering internal personnel adjustments, including the diplomatic line, made during recent events such as the Supreme People's Assembly, we are closely monitoring North Korea's foreign policy trends."

At the Supreme People's Assembly, North Korea elected Ri Son-gwon as Foreign Minister and Kim Hyun-jun as Director of the Workers' Party International Department as State Affairs Commission members. Minister Kang explained, "North Korea is currently observed to be focusing on internal management to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)," and added, "They are concentrating on strengthening healthcare capabilities, such as the groundbreaking ceremony for the Pyongyang General Hospital and expanding the health sector budget."

She also expressed the intention to continue diplomatic efforts to achieve tangible results in the Korean Peninsula peace process and to cooperate with the international community to advance inter-Korean cooperation projects.

Minister Kang emphasized, "We will seek to continuously promote virtuous cycle progress in inter-Korean and North Korea-U.S. relations while strengthening dialogue momentum," and added, "Based on close ROK-U.S. cooperation, we will manage the situation on the Korean Peninsula stably and persistently pursue diplomatic efforts for the achievements of the Korean Peninsula peace process."

She further stated, "We will promote inter-Korean cooperation projects within the framework of sanctions against North Korea, starting with those that are possible, to induce North Korea's response," and added, "In this process, we will also closely cooperate with the international community."

Meanwhile, regarding COVID-19 response, she reported that support for essential economic exchange activities of our citizens will continue, noting that so far, the return of 21,500 overseas Koreans from 90 countries has been supported, and 2,943 Korean businesspeople have exceptionally entered from eight countries.

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