Lee In-young "Restoration of Inter-Korean Dialogue in the First Half of the Year... Resumption of Panmunjom Agreement Implementation in the Second Half"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Lee In-young, Minister of Unification, announced that inter-Korean dialogue will be restored in the first half of the year, and in the second half, when the COVID-19 situation calms down, the implementation of the Panmunjom Declaration agreement will resume.

At the 'Carbon Neutral Peace Tree Planting' event held on the 26th at the Paju Inter-Korean Forestry Cooperation Center, Minister Lee said, "Our government will continue to value the agreements jointly made by South and North Korea and make consistent efforts to implement these agreements."

Held a day before the 3rd anniversary of the April 27 Panmunjom Declaration, Minister Lee expressed regret that "three years later, the progress in inter-Korean relations and peace on the Korean Peninsula has not advanced as much as hoped on that day," but emphasized, "However, our aspirations and efforts toward denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and lasting peace have never stopped."

Minister Lee said, "The 1953 pine tree planted by the two leaders at Panmunjom, pledging to end division and war and to begin peace and prosperity, has endured several winters and still firmly takes root," adding, "The fact that South and North Korea planted a tree to commemorate the Panmunjom Declaration reflects the hope that this agreement will stand firm against any storm."

He added, "The government plans to restore inter-Korean dialogue in the first half of the year and, expecting the COVID-19 situation to calm down in the second half, will seek to resume the implementation of inter-Korean agreements while expanding the scope of cooperation. If efforts for exchange and cooperation are made not only by the government but also at the private level, positive changes accelerating the advancement of inter-Korean relations and the establishment of peace on the Korean Peninsula can be achieved."

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