Lee In-young Calls for "North Korea Tourism and Barter Trade"... Meets with U.S. Ambassador Harris

Minister of Unification Lee In-young is delivering a congratulatory speech at the "Time for Resuming Inter-Korean Exchanges Including Allowing Individual Tourism to North Korea" forum held on the afternoon of the 14th at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul.

On the 18th, Lee In-young, Minister of Unification, will meet Harry Harris, the U.S. Ambassador to South Korea, for the first time since his inauguration. Minister Lee, who has proposed various measures for inter-Korean cooperation such as individual tourism to North Korea and barter trade between the two Koreas, is expected to explain his related plans to Ambassador Harris.

On the 18th, the Ministry of Unification announced that Minister Lee will meet Ambassador Harris in his office at the Government Seoul Office Building in Jongno-gu in the afternoon, and that this meeting is a courtesy visit by Ambassador Harris to congratulate Minister Lee on his inauguration.

During the meeting, Minister Lee is expected to explain the government's plans for inter-Korean exchange and cooperation policies to Ambassador Harris and emphasize the necessity of South Korea-U.S. cooperation in the policy implementation process.

Since his inauguration, he has expressed his intention to open the door to inter-Korean exchange and cooperation through "small trade," a barter trade method that can avoid violating international sanctions against North Korea.

The Ministry of Unification has maintained the position that since the small trade policy is conducted within the framework of sanctions against North Korea, it is not a matter for the South Korea-U.S. working group discussions, but communication with the U.S. is possible if necessary.

Additionally, individual tourism to North Korea is being emphasized as a creative solution to inter-Korean relations. Minister Lee stated in a congratulatory speech at a forum held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 14th, "Individual tourism to North Korean regions is a new cooperative space to break through the deadlock in inter-Korean relations and one of the creative solutions to resolve the Kumgangsan tourism issue."

He added, "Starting with visits to the hometowns of displaced persons and separated families, the scope and regions can gradually expand to include tourism to Kaesong and Kumgangsan accessible by land, tourism through third countries, and linked tourism for foreigners between the two Koreas."

There is also a possibility that issues related to the operation of the South Korea-U.S. working group will be discussed. Minister Lee has stated since before his inauguration that matters subject to sanctions against North Korea should be resolved through the South Korea-U.S. working group, but inter-Korean issues that do not violate sanctions, such as small trade or individual tourism, should be pursued independently with autonomy.

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