Kwon Young-se: "North Korea's Consistent Threats Will Only Worsen Its Position"

Minister of Unification's Congratulatory Address on the 42nd Anniversary of the National Day Council
"Results of ROK-US and ROK-Japan Summits... Achievements of the Yoon Administration's Efforts"

Unification Minister Kwon Young-se warned, "North Korea strongly opposes and continues to threaten, but it must clearly understand that this only worsens its own situation and position."

Minister Kwon made this remark during a congratulatory speech at the 42nd anniversary ceremony of the founding of the National Unification Council held at the Korea Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 17th. He stated, "It is time to realize that time is no longer on North Korea's side." North Korea has continued its threats, reacting harshly against the 'Washington Declaration' following last month's South Korea-US summit, but Minister Kwon criticized that such behavior does not help North Korea at all.

Minister of Unification Kwon Young-se Photo by Yonhap News

Minister Kwon evaluated the recent consecutive South Korea-US and South Korea-Japan summits as "precious achievements born from the government's steady efforts." At the end of last month, President Yoon Suk-yeol met with US President Joe Biden and adopted the Washington Declaration, which includes measures to strengthen extended deterrence such as the establishment of the Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) and the port call of US strategic nuclear submarines (SSBNs) to the Korean Peninsula. Following this, through a series of summits with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, the trilateral pressure cooperation on North Korea among South Korea, the US, and Japan has been significantly elevated. During the upcoming G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan, starting on the 19th, a South Korea-US-Japan summit is also scheduled to discuss responses to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats.

He also reiterated his commitment regarding North Korean human rights issues. Minister Kwon said, "Efforts to improve the human rights and humanitarian situation of North Korean residents are being consistently pursued," adding, "For the first time among past governments, we have publicly released the 'North Korean Human Rights Report,' opening a new path toward a peaceful and free Korean Peninsula." He urged, "(The Kim Jong-un regime) must change direction from the path of isolation and despair to coexistence and prosperity for the sake of North Korean residents living in suffering."

Furthermore, he introduced the 'New Unification Future Plan' currently being prepared by the Ministry of Unification, explaining that a new unification roadmap will be presented reflecting the changed unification environment. He said, "The government will not be swayed by North Korea's reactions but will uphold principles in its North Korea policy and steadily move forward toward a unified Korean Peninsula with the people," adding, "What is needed now is to carefully design the future of unification, create a favorable environment for unification, and calmly prepare for unification with a long-term perspective."

In addition, Minister Kwon expressed concern over the severe traffic congestion around Gwanghwamun caused by the two-day rally held by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, which delayed the arrival of some attendees including National Assembly Deputy Speaker Jung Woo-taek. He said, "I wonder if society can continue like this," and urged, "People with a proper national perspective, like those in the National Unification Council, should join forces with the government and work hard to change our society." Meanwhile, the National Unification Council, founded in 1981, is the largest civilian unification movement organization in South Korea, with about 100,000 members nationwide.

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