Ruling party supports economic projects with NK

Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon, front row third from right, poses for a group photo with members of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea at the National Assembly, Tuesday, before giving a lecture on the second summit between North Korea and the U.S. in Hanoi and prospects for inter-Korean relations. Yonhap

By Park Ji-won

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) vowed continued support, Tuesday, for economic cooperation with North Korea even after the unexpected breakdown of the second summit between North Korea and the U.S.

DPK Chairman Rep. Lee Hae-chan was briefed by Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon at the National Assembly Tuesday over the summit between the North's Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump in Hanoi and discussed ways to deal with the aftermath of the summit. Suh Hoon, chief of the National Intelligence Service, also visited the Assembly to brief lawmakers on the summit outcomes.

The moves came after Monday's National Security Council (NSC) meeting presided over by President Moon Jae-in, where Moon and top officials also pledged to hold military talks with North Korea this month and consult the U.S. on restarting inter-Korean economic cooperation projects. The NSC meeting was the first to be held by Moon in nine months.

“We will seek various ways to create a venue for the resumption of North Korea-U.S. dialogue,” Kang said in the meeting on Monday. In the NSC meeting, the South Korean leader reportedly insisted the U.S. and North Korea will sign an agreement eventually.

Meanwhile, Cho participated in a DPK seminar at the Assembly on the Hanoi summit and development of inter-Korean relations on Tuesday. “Even though the North and the U.S. didn't make an agreement, it is important that the two paved the way to enter an important stage in the future,” he said.

He also said the ministry asked the U.N. Security Council Sanctions Committee on North Korea to lift sanctions blocking inter-Korean projects such as connecting railways and roads, forestry cooperation and holding meetings for separated families, and it will push for various businesses with the North.

Cho emphasized that to restore the facilities at Mount Geumgang, sanctions should be lifted.

Cho added, “As Trump mentioned, there was a testimony by his former attorney Michael Cohen on the same day as the summit. And, the main reason behind the failure to sign an agreement was that the two countries failed to exchange opinions on the scope of denuclearization.”