270 Billion Won Support from Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund... Lee In-young "North Korea Keeps Multiple Possibilities Open" (Comprehensive)

Kaesong Industrial Complex Support Foundation 8.4 Billion Won
48 Billion Won for DMZ Peace and Unification Cultural Space Creation
800 Million Won for Separated Families Survey, etc.
Unification Minister Lee In-young: "North Korea Keeps Multiple Possibilities Open"

Minister of Unification Lee In-young is speaking at the 318th Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Promotion Council held on the 14th at the Ministry of Unification's main conference room in the Government Seoul Office Building.

Amid North Korea's announcement of nuclear force enhancement through the 8th Workers' Party Congress, the government decided on the 14th to support a total of about 27 billion KRW from the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund for managing Panmunjom tours, operating the Kaesong Industrial Complex Support Foundation, and conducting a survey on separated families.

The Ministry of Unification held the 318th Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Promotion Council (Gyouchu-hyeop) on the same day and reviewed and approved support plans for seven agenda items from the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund.

In his opening remarks at the meeting, Minister of Unification Lee In-young said regarding the 8th Party Congress that ended on the 12th, "North Korea is observing the process of the new U.S. administration's policy formulation on the Korean Peninsula, watching the future situation, and leaving room to move their policy tools in either a hard or soft direction."

He continued, "North Korea has kept its final judgment on hold, leaving various possibilities open," and explained the purpose of holding the first Gyouchu-hyeop meeting this year by saying, "The Ministry of Unification will proceed step by step with what can be done now rather than expecting quick results."

Looking at the agenda items, 8.406 billion KRW will be supported for the operation expenses of the Kaesong Industrial Complex Support Foundation. The government plans to continue efforts to create conditions for the resumption of the complex, including supporting the normalization of management for Kaesong Industrial Complex companies and domestic and international market access this year.

For the first phase of the 'DMZ Peaceful Unification Cultural Space' project, 4.776 billion KRW will be supported. This project aims to create a cultural exchange space between the South and North at locations such as the Inter-Korean Access Office and Dorasan Station.

North Korea's Korean Central Television reported on the 14th that Chairman Kim Jong Un watched the 8th Party Congress commemorative performance "Singing to the Party," held the previous day at the Pyongyang Gymnasium. North Korea conducted the Party Congress over eight days starting from the 5th, and held the commemorative performance the day after the closing.

41.21 billion KRW will be allocated for the 'Consignment Project Expenses of the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Support Association,' and 3.75 billion KRW for the 'Korean Peninsula Unification Future Center Operation Project.' Additionally, 3.345 billion KRW will be supported for the 'Joint Compilation Project of the Great Korean Dictionary by North and South.' 1.92746 billion KRW has been assigned for the integrated management and operation of Panmunjom tours, aimed at improving the convenience of Panmunjom tour procedures and expanding opportunities for citizens to visit Panmunjom.

8 billion KRW will be provided for the separated families survey. From April to October this year, a survey will be conducted targeting about 50,000 applicants residing in South Korea who are seeking separated family members, and the information of these applicants will be updated.

The Ministry of Unification explained, "Of the total 21.5 billion KRW approved for some agenda items this time, 16.3 billion KRW, about 75.8%, is fixed costs such as personnel and operating expenses," and that new projects or expanded initiatives were minimized.

President Moon Jae-in is delivering a New Year's address at the Blue House on the 11th.

Earlier on the 12th, the Ministry of Unification decided to establish a video conference room for non-face-to-face talks with North Korea by April, spending about 400 million KRW. The day before, President Moon Jae-in, in his New Year's address at the Blue House, urged North Korea to respond to dialogue with a more progressive attitude, saying, "Our will to meet anytime, anywhere, and to talk even through non-face-to-face methods remains unchanged."

Meanwhile, Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of North Korea, through the 8th Party Congress concluded on the 12th, announced the enhancement of nuclear forces and defined inter-Korean cooperation projects as "non-essential issues," foreshadowing a difficult path for inter-Korean relations. On the 12th, Kim Yo-jong issued a statement harshly criticizing the South, mentioning surveillance of the military parade and calling them "complete idiots" and "grotesque creatures."

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