Kim Yeon-cheol "Preparing Comprehensive Inter-Korean Health and Medical Cooperation"

Unification Minister Delivers Congratulatory Address at the Founding General Assembly of Bukminhyeop

Yoon Sang-hyun, Chairman of the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, is exchanging greetings with Kim Yeon-chul, Minister of Unification, before holding a meeting at the National Assembly on the 22nd. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

Kim Yeon-cheol, Minister of Unification, stated on the 22nd, "The government is preparing comprehensive inter-Korean health and medical cooperation."

Minister Kim made this remark while delivering a congratulatory speech at the inaugural general meeting of the Civil Society Council for Inter-Korean Cooperation in the afternoon, saying, "The COVID-19 pandemic is a serious situation worldwide, and solidarity and cooperation have emerged as the only solution to overcome the current crisis."

He emphasized, "South and North Korea, living under the same sky of the Korean Peninsula, share a common destiny," and added, "The South and the North must be the first to join hands and unite their strength more than any other countries."

Minister Kim expressed his willingness to actively cooperate with civil society organizations regarding inter-Korean cooperation. He said, "Throughout the not-so-short history of inter-Korean relations, civil society organizations have consistently been key players," and "Amid the ever-changing environment surrounding the Korean Peninsula, our civil society organizations have quietly walked a single path, laying the foundation for peace."

He continued, "The government will also do its best to work in step with you so that the public and private sectors can create a synergy effect in inter-Korean relations."

The National Movement Headquarters for the Resumption of Kaesong Industrial Complex and Mount Kumgang Tourism held a press conference on the morning of the 22nd in front of the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, urging the lifting of the May 24 measures and the full resumption of inter-Korean cooperation.

Meanwhile, 249 civic and social organizations, including the Kaesong Industrial Complex Association and the Mount Kumgang Tourism Association, held a joint press conference in front of the Government Seoul Office in Sejong-ro on the morning of the 22nd, urging the lifting of the May 24 measures and the full resumption of inter-Korean cooperation.

The May 24 measures are unilateral sanctions against North Korea implemented by the Lee Myung-bak administration on May 24, 2010, in response to the Cheonan ship incident in March of the same year. The measures included a ban on all visits to North Korea except for the Kaesong Industrial Complex, prohibition of North Korean vessels passing through territorial waters, and suspension of support projects for North Korea except for humanitarian aid.

These organizations pointed out, "Even after three years since the current government took office, the May 24 measures are still in effect," and criticized, "As the Ministry of Unification mentioned, if the May 24 measures have truly lost their effectiveness, the government should declare a full lifting to properly conclude the matter, but the government's attitude remains a makeshift solution to avoid various criticisms."

They added, "If the government's position to prioritize what South and North Korea can do is to have sincerity, it must declare the complete termination of the May 24 measures," and emphasized, "It should announce the full resumption of inter-Korean cooperation projects such as the Kaesong Industrial Complex, Mount Kumgang tourism, and inter-Korean railway connections."

They also argued, "The government should not selectively implement only some parts of the inter-Korean joint declarations but declare a stance for full implementation," and "All exchanges and cooperation, including economic cooperation, should be expanded, and the private sector should be actively supported."

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