Park Ji-won: "Next Minister of Unification Should Be Promoted to Deputy Prime Minister... Im Jong-seok Will Do Very Well"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Wondara] Professor Park Ji-won, Chair Professor at Dankook University, said that the next Minister of Unification should be promoted to a Deputy Prime Minister level, and if former Presidential Chief of Staff Im Jong-seok takes the position, he would do very well.

Professor Park appeared on CBS Radio on the morning of the 19th and regarding the next Minister of Unification, he said, "The counterpart is Kim Yo-jong, the First Deputy Director and the second-in-command of North Korea," adding, "Like in the past, the position should be elevated to Deputy Prime Minister, appointing someone significant and weighty as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Unification."

He continued, "Until now, the Minister of Unification has only focused on North Korea issues, but the most important thing is to persuade the United States. When the U.S. imposes excessive sanctions or there are problems, we need to go and confront the U.S. as well," and said, "The North Korea issue can become a North Korea-U.S. issue, so it should be approached as a triangular structure."

He further explained, "Persuading the U.S. is necessary. Instead of leaving it solely to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and doing it themselves, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Unification should directly go to the U.S. to explain, sometimes clash, and persuade. It should be someone heavyweight, well-known in the U.S. as well."

When asked about discussions on appointing Lee In-young, Im Jong-seok, Hong Ik-pyo, Woo Sang-ho, or Seo Ho, Deputy Minister of Unification, as Minister, he said, "Song Young-gil is also included," adding, "They are all interested in North Korea issues and actively involved in the National Assembly. Regardless of who goes, the position should be elevated."

Regarding the speculation about former Chief of Staff Im, he said, "In my view, if the President asks him to take the position, he would do very well, and having served as Chief of Staff, he has a dignified presence."

On whether the Korea-U.S. working group should be disbanded, he said, "It might be better to maintain it for the time being, but we must break away from being completely dictated by the U.S." Regarding changes in the diplomatic and security line, he expressed a negative view, saying, "When the First Deputy Director shakes things up once, everyone gets personnel changes. This is a bad precedent." About the law banning the distribution of leaflets to North Korea, he said, "It is not Kim Yo-jong’s directive law; it should be enacted quickly."

Regarding John Bolton, U.S. National Security Council (NSC) advisor’s memoir, Professor Park said, "Even at the Blue House (lunch with experts on inter-Korean relations invited by President Moon Jae-in), that was a striking statement?that President Trump and Chairman Kim Jong-un still have such a trust relationship," adding, "There is trust among the leaders of South Korea, North Korea, and the U.S. The problem was that opposition from below prevented it from being realized."

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