Ministry of Unification: "Preparing for Dialogue with North Korea Regardless of Timing or Format"

Minister of Unification Lee In-young is delivering a greeting at the 4.27 Panmunjom Declaration 3rd Anniversary Commemoration Event "Cooperation for Peace, Let's Start Again" held on the 27th in front of the DMZ gate at the northern end of the Inter-Korean Joint Office in Paju, Gyeonggi Province. 2021.4.27 Photo by Joint Press Corps

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The Ministry of Unification announced that the conditions for inter-Korean dialogue have been created through the South Korea-US summit, and that it will prioritize restoring communication channels between the two Koreas and resuming dialogue.

On the morning of the 28th, during the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee plenary session's briefing on issues related to the South Korea-US summit, the Ministry of Unification identified restoring communication channels and resuming dialogue between the two Koreas as top priorities, stating, "We will prepare for the possibility of intergovernmental talks from the stance that any agenda can be discussed at any time, regardless of formality."

In this regard, the Ministry of Unification equipped a video conference room on the 3rd floor of the Inter-Korean Talks Headquarters in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, last month in preparation for non-face-to-face inter-Korean talks.

The Ministry of Unification also stated that to restore inter-Korean relations, it will prioritize comprehensive humanitarian cooperation, including health and medical cooperation and livelihood cooperation, and plans to expand cooperation areas such as separated family reunions, climate environment, and disaster and calamity depending on North Korea's response. It added that support will also be provided to restore private-sector humanitarian and exchange cooperation channels.

Regarding North Korea's situation, the Ministry of Unification said, "Since the inauguration of the Biden administration, North Korea has shown a relatively cautious and restrained response compared to other US regime changes and is observing," adding, "As the US review process on North Korea policy and the results of the South Korea-US summit have outlined a direction emphasizing 'maximum flexibility,' North Korea is expected to carefully consider whether to take follow-up actions."

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