"North Korea Does Not Want a Korean Peninsula Catastrophe... Entering Momentum for Improvement Around Year-End and New Year" (Comprehensive)

Senior Official from Ministry of Unification States "Cooperation on Health and Medical Issues Including COVID-19"
"We Must Improve Inter-Korean Relations to Facilitate North Korea-US Relations"
Lee In-young: "In This Turning Point, We Must Make It the Time of Inter-Korean Relations"

On October 5th, the Political Bureau meeting of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, presided over by Chairman Kim Jong-un, was held at the headquarters building of the Party Central Committee, according to a report by the Korean Central News Agency on the 6th.

A senior official from the Ministry of Unification said on the 9th that following the exchange of letters between President Moon Jae-in and North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un in September, and with the results of the U.S. presidential election now out in November, the situation on the Korean Peninsula is expected to move toward a flow of dialogue and cooperation around the turn of the year. He particularly emphasized that since the U.S. administration’s appointments, inauguration, and the activation of the North Korea negotiation team will inevitably take physical time, an active North Korea policy is necessary during this period.

The senior official from the Ministry of Unification told reporters on the same day, "As we enter the end of the year and the beginning of the next, I believe the objective circumstances on the Korean Peninsula are increasingly factors that make dialogue and cooperation inevitable."

He said, "The South and North exchanged letters between their leaders in September, and North Korea showed an unusual apology during the West Sea public official shooting death incident." He also mentioned the refined external message sent by Kim Jong-un at the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party in October, adding, "Considering these situations comprehensively, I believe North Korea at least tried to prevent the worst-case, catastrophic scenario. I think there is a will to rebuild good inter-Korean relations."

He added, "I hope we can take practical steps, such as health and medical cooperation centered on COVID-19, without missing the timing."

On the 11th, Kim Jong Un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, watched the grand mass gymnastics and artistic performance "Great Guidance" commemorating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party at the May 1 Stadium in Pyongyang, according to a report by Korean Central TV on the 12th of last month. Chairman Kim Jong Un, having received a bouquet, is lifting a flower child high in his arms. Hyon Song Wol, Deputy Director of the Propaganda and Agitation Department, is attending to protocol beside Chairman Kim.

◆ "Is it difficult because of North Korea-U.S. relations, so inter-Korean relations cannot progress? We must improve inter-Korean relations well to make North Korea-U.S. relations work well"

The senior official from the Ministry of Unification also foresaw that progress in inter-Korean relations could help resolve the deadlock in North Korea-U.S. relations. He emphasized, "Instead of the attitude that 'North Korea-U.S. relations are deadlocked, so inter-Korean relations are difficult,' we must change our mindset to 'improve inter-Korean relations well so that North Korea-U.S. relations can improve.'"

Although it is expected that the 'top-down' dialogue approach of former U.S. President Donald Trump will shift to a 'bottom-up' approach in the Biden era, he also evaluated that South Korea could create new opportunities here. The Biden administration is expected to pursue a bottom-up negotiation approach centered on working-level officials, while North Korea is expected to pursue a top-down approach centered on the supreme leader. Given that North Korea’s negotiation team traditionally has virtually no discretion at the working level, negotiations are likely to be prolonged and drift again.

While expressing concern about this, the senior official said, "That is why it is very important to have someone who plays a role in the middle." He added, "I believe this could be a new opportunity for the South Korean government. Before worrying about whether it is top-down or bottom-up, if we find the content of the negotiations and solutions to the problems well, I believe the difference in negotiation methods can be overcome."

He also expressed disagreement with concerns that the Biden administration’s North Korea policy might become a 'third Obama term' of 'strategic patience.' He mentioned that Biden supported the Sunshine Policy of the Kim Dae-jung administration and said, "I think the situation can change depending on how we coordinate with the U.S. government."

North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong Un provided on-site guidance at the flood recovery site in Kimhwa County, according to a report by the Korean Central News Agency on October 2.

◆ Lee In-young, Minister of Unification: "U.S. presidential election results are a major turning point in the situation on the Korean Peninsula"

Meanwhile, Lee In-young, Minister of Unification, said, "I hope to make this period of change a time for inter-Korean relations," adding, "If the South and North first open the door to dialogue and build trust, we will be able to jointly lead the better flow of the situation that will continue."

At a press briefing held at the Inter-Korean Dialogue Headquarters in Samcheong-dong on the same day, he referred to the U.S. presidential election results as "a major turning point in the situation."

Minister Lee first expressed concern that the establishment of U.S. North Korea policy might be delayed compared to usual. He said, "This U.S. presidential election was strongly influenced by the new order and variables disrupted by COVID-19," adding, "It recorded the highest voter turnout in U.S. election history, reflecting the American people's desire for participation in democracy, and the next U.S. administration will be required to show leadership that goes beyond conflict and confrontation toward solidarity, coexistence, and integration."

He continued, "These factors lead me to judge that it will take a certain amount of additional time to establish U.S. North Korea policy," and "there are concerns about fluidity and uncertainty in the Northeast Asian situation." Nevertheless, Minister Lee predicted a proactive inter-Korean relationship, saying, "Paradoxically, I think this time can open a larger opportunity space to achieve peace between the South and North."

Minister Lee mentioned the 'North Korea-U.S. Joint Communique' agreed upon in 2000 when North Korea and the U.S. agreed to build a new relationship, and the 2018 Singapore North Korea-U.S. summit, emphasizing, "These were possible because there was dialogue and cooperation between the South and North, which also led to progress in North Korea-U.S. relations."

He said, "If the North faithfully implements inter-Korean and North Korea-U.S. agreements and shows a forward-looking denuclearization will, not only will the Korean Peninsula move toward peace, but we can also jointly create achievements that expand the space for peace and cooperation between the South and North." He added, "Through this, I believe the South, North, and U.S. can move beyond the regrets of Hanoi and toward new fruits of peace."

North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un officially apologized to our side regarding the incident in which a public official who went missing at sea near Soyeonpyeongdo in the West Sea was shot and killed by North Korea. Two days later, on the early morning of September 27, a naval vessel was conducting maritime patrol in the waters off Yeonpyeongdo.

◆ Lee In-young: "U.S. North Korea policy has been influenced by inter-Korean relations... We will communicate with the U.S. political circles through various channels"

Additionally, Minister Lee declared the promotion of the Korean Peninsula peace process based on the close South Korea-U.S. alliance. He said, "When the next U.S. administration takes office, it may inevitably take at least several months for policy review, but during this period, the government will communicate with the U.S. political circles through various channels."

He continued, "Historically, the U.S. government has always listened to the position of its ally, the South Korean government," emphasizing, "It is also true that the U.S. approach to North Korea engagement has been influenced to some extent by our government's inter-Korean relations policy." He added, "We will confirm the importance of denuclearization and the establishment of a permanent peace regime, and fully explain the necessity of South Korea-North Korea-U.S. cooperation," expressing hope that "through this process, the South Korea-U.S. alliance will also develop into a new stage that leads the order of peace."

Minister Lee promised, "The government will unwaveringly continue the Korean Peninsula peace process under any circumstances," and "We will manage the situation on the Korean Peninsula stably during this transition period, and when the opportunity arises, we will clearly play a role in advancing North Korea-U.S. relations."

He said, "We will continue efforts to create a framework for dialogue and cooperation between the South and North," adding, "Starting with COVID-19, we will fully activate cooperation toward the South-North Life and Safety Community, as President Moon Jae-in mentioned, in areas closely related to life issues such as disaster and environment." He further added, "Based on trust among the South, North, and U.S., we will prepare all understandings and conditions to move toward a larger approach of fully implementing all agreements made so far."

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