Lee In-young: "The Clock of Inter-Korean Relations Must Be Turned Back to Two Years Ago"

"Through the September 19 Pyongyang Declaration, firearms disappear from the JSA"
"Will take 'small steps' to implement the inter-Korean declaration"

On the 16th, Lee In-young, Minister of Unification, visited Panmunjom in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, and toured the Dobodari Bridge.

Lee In-young, Minister of Unification, said on the 18th, a day before the 2nd anniversary of the September 19 Pyongyang Joint Declaration, "We must turn back the clock between South and North Korea to two years ago."

In his congratulatory remarks at the 4th Unification Policy Forum hosted by the Minhwahyeop to commemorate the 2nd anniversary of the September 19 Pyongyang Declaration, Minister Lee said, "I hope South and North open the dialogue table and find constructive answers together."

Minister Lee reflected on the significance of the Pyongyang Declaration, saying, "Two years ago, the two leaders of South and North Korea set a new historical milestone to make the Korean Peninsula a foundation of peace."

He evaluated, "Through the promises of September 19, firearms disappeared from the Joint Security Area in Panmunjom, excavation work for remains at Hwaseomari Hill was carried out, and a path of peace opened along the withdrawn guard posts in the DMZ."

He continued, "Currently, the 'South-North time' is temporarily stopped, and it is regrettable that the September 19 agreement has not made further progress in various fields due to the COVID-19 crisis and other factors."

Minister Lee then said, "To implement the South-North Joint Declaration, we will advance 'small approaches' in humanitarian cooperation and exchange cooperation fields that South and North can immediately undertake."

He emphasized, "In particular, we will realize South-North coexistence in areas such as healthcare, quarantine cooperation, and climate environment, communicate, and create warmth of peace in the frozen inter-Korean relations." Minister Lee added, "For this, I hope that consultation channels will be restored promptly and that South and North can sit face to face to discuss current issues."

Furthermore, Minister Lee promised, "Once the COVID-19 situation calms down, starting from October, we will resume Panmunjom tours and the DMZ Peace Trail and invite citizens to the sites of peace."

Minister Lee emphasized, "If we continue the South-North agreements through dialogue and trust, a 'great situation' will open before us again, and a favorable wind of peace will blow, bringing the moment when the Korean Peninsula can freely move toward a future of peaceful prosperity."

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