Lee In-young: "Providing COVID-19 Vaccines to North Korea Is Protecting Ourselves"

Minister of Unification: "The Situation on the Korean Peninsula is Gradually Making a U-Turn"
"If I Must Throw Myself into Regime Re-Creation, I Will" Hints at Presidential Ambition

Minister of Unification Lee In-young appeared on KBS News 9 on the 18th of last month and expressed the position that COVID-19 vaccines and treatments should be provided to North Korea.

Lee In-young, Minister of Unification, reiterated on the 8th his stance that North Korea should be supported with COVID-19 treatments and vaccines, stating, "Ensuring North Korea's safety from COVID-19 is directly linked to South Korea's own safety from the virus."

On the same day, Minister Lee appeared on CBS Radio and mentioned climate change, tuberculosis, malaria, hepatitis, avian influenza (AI), and African swine fever (ASF), emphasizing the need to properly address the unique circumstances of the Korean Peninsula, where the sky, sea, and land are interconnected.

He stressed, "Making North Korea safe from COVID-19 is directly connected to making South Korea safe from COVID-19, so it is also a way to protect ourselves."

Minister Lee has recently expressed his willingness to support North Korea's COVID-19 prevention efforts in public forums, but there has been no clear response from the North. However, he anticipated that North Korea might show signs of change around major political events such as the 8th Party Congress scheduled for January next year.

He said, "There is no direct response from North Korea at the moment," adding, "For now, we have sent out our intentions." He also said, "I believe North Korea has clearly acknowledged our intentions," and expressed hope that "after January next year, such possibilities might open up."

Minister of Unification Lee In-young is attending the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee plenary session held at the National Assembly on the 2nd, responding to questions from lawmakers. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Minister Lee stated, "With the U.S. presidential election over, North Korea's 8th Party Congress in January next year, and President Biden's inauguration as milestones, I think the situation on the Korean Peninsula is generally turning toward easing." He added, "Although it is very gradual and slow, overall it is turning around, and I believe the situation on the Korean Peninsula has entered a turning point of change."

Furthermore, Minister Lee predicted that the South Korean government and the Biden administration would be able to coordinate their North Korea policies. He said, "It may take some time until key officials responsible for major Korean Peninsula policies are appointed and policies are organized after the Biden administration takes office," but added, "If we go through policy coordination processes with the Biden administration during that time, even if it takes some time, we can operate the Korean Peninsula peace process more firmly."

He continued, "If we make policy efforts so that North Korea can also be more flexible during that process, I believe we can create opportunities for peace on the Korean Peninsula that are as good as or even better than those during President Donald Trump's era."

He also foresaw that a North Korea-U.S. summit could be held within the Moon Jae-in administration's term. Minister Lee said, "It is not something I can guarantee," but added, "I do not think it is impossible." Regarding the possibility of President Moon, North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un, and President Biden meeting together, he said, "If we hold such a dream and gather the hearts of our people, and work together to develop South-North-U.S. relations, I think that would be the way forward."

Meanwhile, concerning the possibility of running in the upcoming presidential election, Minister Lee said, "My current task is to resolve inter-Korean relations," but left open the possibility of a presidential bid. He stated, "Next year is a very important time regarding regime continuation, and if there is a role I should take on as a politician from a political party, then I think I should do that accordingly."

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