Lee In-young: "The Time of a Great Korean Peninsula Transformation Like Thor 'Convergence' Is Coming"

Minister of Unification's New Year's Address: "Focusing Cosmic Energy"
"Korean Peninsula Peace Process on Track in Second Half"
"Expecting North Korea to Send Messages of Dialogue and Cooperation"

On the 4th, Minister of Unification Lee In-young mentioned a scene from the movie 'Thor' in his New Year's address, saying, "The time of opportunity is finally coming."

Lee In-young, Minister of Unification, said on the 4th, "Changes in the situation surrounding the fate of the Korean Peninsula are expected to become visible in earnest," adding, "If we can properly fasten the first button of inter-Korean cooperation in the first half of 2021, the peace process on the Korean Peninsula could fully enter its proper track in the second half."

Minister Lee made these remarks in his New Year's address at the Ministry of Unification's video opening ceremony, expressing hope that "North Korea will send more positive messages of dialogue and cooperation toward us."

He first evaluated last year as "a year full of regrets in inter-Korean relations," mentioning the weakening momentum of (North Korea-US) negotiations surrounding the Korean Peninsula issue, the demolition of the inter-Korean joint liaison office by North Korea, and the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

However, Minister Lee expressed expectations for a turnaround in inter-Korean relations by referring to the exchange of letters between the South and North Korean leaders in September last year and the conciliatory message to the South from Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission, during the military parade on October 10, the anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party.

He also mentioned the shooting death of a West Sea public official, stating, "North Korea unusually apologized promptly," emphasizing that "there are also aspects that leave expectations for progress in inter-Korean relations and a reversal of the situation, albeit small."

Minister of Unification Lee In-young is delivering a New Year's address through the Ministry of Unification's online opening ceremony on the 4th.

Then, Minister Lee quoted a scene from the movie 'Thor,' saying, "Finally, the time of opportunity is coming."

He explained, "In the movie Thor, when the nine worlds align in a row, the energy of the universe concentrates powerfully and strongly, which is called Convergence."

He added, "I believe that a 'time of great transformation' focused on peace on the Korean Peninsula is opening before us."

Minister Lee said, "Those who prepare first can create greater peace," expressing hope that "we can proactively pursue feasible tasks first."

He emphasized that he has continuously prepared a step-by-step cooperation plan starting from humanitarian cooperation including health care and responses to COVID-19, climate change, and disaster relief, expanding to cooperation in livelihood areas such as food and fertilizer, and promoting non-commercial public infrastructure cooperation such as railroads and roads.

Furthermore, Minister Lee added, "In this process, we will also firmly maintain policy coordination with the United States."

He predicted, "If the newly inaugurated Biden administration in the United States takes more positive measures in denuclearization negotiations, and North Korea, which had expressed its will for complete denuclearization, adopts a flexible attitude again, the wheel of peace on the Korean Peninsula will start rolling again."

Minister Lee said, "As the North Korean nuclear issue, inter-Korean relations, and North Korea-US relations practically enter a virtuous cycle, we will ultimately bring forward the moment to put an end to the old Cold War and confrontation on the Korean Peninsula and realize a peace regime."

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