Lee In-young: "If I meet Kim Jong-un as a special envoy to North Korea, I will propose dialogue restoration and humanitarian cooperation"

by Kim Dongpyo

Published 23 Jul.2020 16:14(KST)

Updated 10 Mar.2023 15:01(KST)

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Minister of Unification Confirmation Hearing

Lee In-young, the nominee for Minister of Unification, attended the confirmation hearing held at the National Assembly on the 23rd and responded to questions from lawmakers. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Lee In-young, the nominee for Minister of Unification, said on the 23rd, "If I can become a special envoy for North Korea and ease the strained inter-Korean relations, I would not hesitate even a hundred times to take on the role of special envoy," adding that if he meets Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, he would first propose the immediate restoration of inter-Korean dialogue and humanitarian exchange cooperation.

On the same day, during the confirmation hearing held by the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, Lee responded to a question from Lee Tae-gyu of the People's Party asking, "Do you have the intention to visit Pyongyang as a special envoy regarding the strained inter-Korean relations?"

He said that if he visits Pyongyang and meets Kim Jong-un, "I want to start with a full restoration of dialogue," and added, "Through humanitarian exchange cooperation, we will restore trust and promptly proceed to implement the agreements and promises made between the two Koreas without delay."

Lee also stated that he would propose to Chairman Kim a slight concession regarding the North Korean nuclear issue to improve North Korea?U.S. relations.

He said, "At this stage, even if North Korea cannot get everything it wants concerning the nuclear issue, if it can get about 70 to 80 out of 100, I would like to propose a direction to improve North Korea?U.S. relations."

Lee added, "If we miss this moment, we could lose the strategic time, the golden time for improving North Korea?U.S. relations, and it will take quite a long time to restore the relationship."