Ministry of Unification: "Full-scale Restart of the Korean Peninsula Peace Process with the Biden Administration"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The Ministry of Unification will fully restart the Korean Peninsula peace process this year. Based on the restoration of communication lines, it plans to activate inter-Korean exchange and cooperation, promote the international peace zone designation of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), and work on institutionalizing inter-Korean relations, including the National Assembly ratification of the Panmunjom Declaration.

On the 21st, the Ministry of Unification reported the '2021 Major Work Promotion Plan' containing these details to the President.

The Ministry of Unification evaluated that over the past four years, it has consistently pursued the Korean Peninsula peace process through inter-Korean dialogue, multifaceted inter-Korean exchange and cooperation, and South Korea-US coordination and dialogue.

However, it explained that the practical implementation of the Panmunjom Declaration agreements was insufficient, and the prolonged stagnation of inter-Korean relations was a shortcoming.

Accordingly, this year, it announced plans to shift the phase of inter-Korean relations based on three major principles: no war, mutual security assurance, and common prosperity.

Through COVID-19 quarantine measures, military talks, and restoration of communication channels, it aims to restore the inter-Korean dialogue and cooperation system, and fully restart the Korean Peninsula peace process by leveraging opportunities such as the South Korea-US summit with the Biden administration and the Tokyo Olympics.

To this end, the top priority is to restore inter-Korean communication lines and gradually restore inter-Korean contact channels with the goal of establishing permanent missions in Seoul and Pyongyang.

Starting with consultations on current issues, high-level talks will also resume. Initially, sectoral cooperation meetings will be held in areas such as ▲healthcare ▲quarantine ▲climate and environment ▲disaster and emergency response, and Red Cross talks will be held for ▲reunion of separated families ▲opening of permanent meeting places ▲resolution of separated family issues.

Separately from the Red Cross talks, to address the aging of separated families, non-face-to-face exchange methods such as ▲genetic testing and surveys ▲expansion of video reunion centers and hometown experience programs will also be expanded.

Upon resuming high-level talks, the parties will agree on restoring the inter-Korean agreement implementation system and finalize major agendas such as consultations on solutions to inter-Korean disputes.

Humanitarian cooperation such as health and quarantine between the two Koreas will also be promoted. Initially, while monitoring COVID-19 quarantine safety cooperation, the plan is to expand to ▲infectious disease (tuberculosis, malaria, etc.) response infrastructure ▲quarantine for African Swine Fever (ASF) ▲environmental cooperation such as forest and river management, and also consider cooperation on livelihood issues such as rice and fertilizer.

Academic, cultural, and sports exchanges will also be expanded, including exploring a unified team for the Tokyo Olympics. Exchanges in social and cultural sectors such as ▲resuming excavation of Kaesong Manwoldae ▲publication of the Great Korean Dictionary will be promoted, and North Korea’s intention regarding a unified team for the Tokyo Olympics will be re-examined.

Trade through barter of non-sanctioned goods such as liquor, bottled water, and processed foods will be pursued, and individual visits will be expanded starting with Kaesong and Mount Kumgang. A 24-hour on-site support system, including the 'North Korea Visit Support Center' to assist individual visits, will be established, and comprehensive agreements on modernization of inter-Korean railroads and roads will be pursued. In response to North Korea’s independent development plans for Mount Kumgang, the necessity of inter-Korean cooperative development will be emphasized, and practical measures to resume the Kaesong Industrial Complex will be sought.

For peaceful use of the DMZ, tasks to realize the 'DMZ International Peace Zone' such as surveys will be promoted, and once COVID-19 social distancing measures are eased, tours of Panmunjom will be immediately resumed. Walking programs along long- and short-term routes passing through the DMZ and the Civilian Control Line will also be operated.

Institutionalization of inter-Korean relations will be pursued through National Assembly ratification of the Panmunjom Declaration and revision of the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Act. To expand public consensus on the Korean Peninsula peace process, the 'Unification National Agreement (draft)' will also be actively publicized.

The Ministry of Unification stated, "We will restore channels between the two Koreas and resume dialogue to develop inter-Korean relations and thereby secure momentum for the Korean Peninsula peace process. Through cooperation in health, quarantine, environment, and livelihood, we will develop a life and safety community of coexistence and peace on the Korean Peninsula."

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