Bo-eun leads the digital content team. She has covered foreign affairs, North Korea, tech, economy and gender issues at The Korea Times. She did a short stint at the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong, where she obtained a new perspective on news production and life. Small sources of joy for her are lounging in the sun, having a good latte and swimming.
Inter-Korean liaison office to open Friday
By Kim Bo-eun
Preparations are underway to open an inter-Korean liaison office in the North's city of Gaeseong on Friday, the unification ministry said Tuesday.
The joint office, which will be the first organization at which South and North Koreans will work together, is among the agreements reached at the first summit between President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in April.
The Koreas had initially aimed to open the office in August, but the opening was delayed due to what was seen as differences between South Korea and the U.S. amid stalled denuclearization talks between North Korea and the U.S., as well as issues pertaining to sanctions on North Korea concerning bringing electricity and equipment into the office.
Washington is seen as disapproving of advancing inter-Korean projects amid a lack of progress in North Korea's denuclearization. The contact office is set to open this week amid references to a second summit between the leaders of North Korea and the U.S. being made, after positive developments in dialogue between the countries.
Regarding the matter, foreign ministry spokesman Noh Kyu-duk said “South Korea and the U.S. continue to cooperate closely regarding issues concerning North Korea, and we have continued communication over the liaison office.”
“We believe our meetings with Stephen Biegun, the U.S. special representative for North Korea will deepen the U.S. understanding on our stance, at a time when at which the liaison office will open soon.”
The office is aimed at enhancing communication and exchanges between the South and North. Up until now, inter-Korean communication took place through separate contact offices at the truce village of Panmunjeom.
Around 50 to 100 officials of the South and North are set to attend the opening ceremony of the joint liaison office, a unification ministry official said.