The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    BTS stars shine brighter as solo artists

  • 3

    North Korean escapees tell how nuclear tests ruined their health, hometown

  • 5

    ITZY's Lia takes break to put mental health first

  • 7

    USFK soldier, 2 women arrested for drug trafficking

  • 9

    Seventeen to drop 11th EP next month

  • 11

    Foreign ministry asks Japan to investigate case of Korean poisoned with bleach in Tokyo

  • 13

    Unfreezing of funds not likely to restore Korea-Iran ties

  • 15

    Seoul plans to build Jamsil Sports MICE Complex

  • 17

    Invasion of 'smart' albums

  • 19

    All BTS members renew contracts with HYBE: agency

  • 2

    '30 Days' promises laughter, unlikely romance

  • 4

    30 people purchased 8,000 homes: data

  • 6

    Rowoon leaves SF9 to focus on acting career

  • 8

    Korea urged to adopt China exit strategy amid hegemonic war

  • 10

    INTERVIEWPutin uses summit with NK leader to stop Seoul from helping Ukraine: expert

  • 12

    Lamborghini driver suspect sent to prosecutors over parking dispute in Gangnam

  • 14

    Netflix's 'Song of the Bandits' blends western action with Korean period series

  • 16

    Merck emphasizes digitalization in semiconductor market

  • 18

    Yanolja's aggressive expansion results in voluntary redundancy program

  • 20

    Global oil price surge stokes stagflation concerns

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
North Korea
Fri, September 22, 2023 | 06:46
Unification minister calls on North to fulfill inter-Korean agreements
Posted : 2020-09-16 16:43
Updated : 2020-09-17 09:18
Kang Seung-woo
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
Unification Minister Lee In-young waves his hand toward North Korean soldiers observing his visit to the truce village of Panmunjeom, Wednesday. / Joint press corps
Unification Minister Lee In-young waves his hand toward North Korean soldiers observing his visit to the truce village of Panmunjeom, Wednesday. / Joint press corps

By Kang Seung-woo, Joint press corps

Unification Minister Lee In-young urged North Korea to put inter-Korean agreements into action, Wednesday, and return to negotiations amid a deadlock in bilateral relations.

He also called for an early restoration of consultation channels between the South and North, including a liaison office that was demolished by Pyongyang in June.

Lee's pleas came during his first visit to the truce village of Panmunjeom since his inauguration in July, and days ahead of the second anniversary of a summit between President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang, Sept. 19, 2018, during which they signed agreements to reduce military tensions and bolster cooperation.

"Agreement must be kept and they can be completed by implementation," Lee said. "In order to complete the determination of the two leaders and restart the timeline for the South and North, joint efforts between the two Koreas should continue to move things forward."

He added: "I expect the North to respond to our call for the implementation of the joint agreements."

Journalists call for continued efforts for peace between the two Koreas
Journalists call for continued efforts for peace between the two Koreas
2020-09-16 16:45  |  Foreign Affairs

While asking for the North to return to dialogue, the minister also said the Kim regime has fulfilled the agreements to a certain extent.

"Even though it is regrettable that the North unilaterally blew up the liaison office, Kim's follow-up actions such as suspending military action against the South and scrapping plans to reinstall propaganda loudspeakers and send propaganda leaflets across the border were part of efforts to prevent inter-Korean tensions from further escalating," he said, adding that the country has also somewhat fulfilled its military agreement.

Describing the current situation on the Korean Peninsula as military tension-free, the minister unveiled a plan to resume peace tourism.

"When the coronavirus situation gets better, the government will resume tours to Panmunjeom, while trekking programs around the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) can commence as early as October," he said.

"In addition, I hope that we could offer a small-scale reunion of separated families at Panmunjeom."

The two sides last held reunions of separated families in August 2018 at the Mount Geumgang Resort on the North's east coast.

Since the Hanoi summit between the North and the U.S. ended in failure in February 2019, denuclearization negotiations have made little progress and as a result, inter-Korean ties have remained chilly as well because these were are regarded as a subordinate factor by Pyongyang in its talks with Washington.

The minister once again insisted that the South pursue inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation independently of the deadlocked denuclearization talks, which he believes would help trilateral trust between the South, the North and the U.S.

"If we engage in humanitarian cooperation in the fields of public healthcare, quarantine and climate change, separate from any progress in the North-U.S. talks, all three will be able to build mutual trust," he said.

To this end, he expressed hope that the communication channels, including the inter-Korean liaison office, will be normalized.

"The reopening of communication tools will enable the two Koreas to hold frank dialogue," Lee said.



Emailksw@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
miguel
Top 10 Stories
130 people purchased 8,000 homes: data 30 people purchased 8,000 homes: data
2National Assembly passes motion to arrest DPK chiefNational Assembly passes motion to arrest DPK chief
3Gender equality minister nominee in hot seat over remarks on abortion Gender equality minister nominee in hot seat over remarks on abortion
4Seoul invites ambassadors to introduce new halal foods in KoreaSeoul invites ambassadors to introduce new halal foods in Korea
5KG Mobility seeks breakthrough in Europe KG Mobility seeks breakthrough in Europe
6S. Korea condemns Russia, seeks to mend ties with ChinaS. Korea condemns Russia, seeks to mend ties with China
7Civil servant mentor reappointed as labor ministry spokesmanCivil servant mentor reappointed as labor ministry spokesman
8Honey-dipped cookie to represent 'K-desserts' at global food expo in Germany Honey-dipped cookie to represent 'K-desserts' at global food expo in Germany
9COVID-19 deaths hit record high in Korea for 2022COVID-19 deaths hit record high in Korea for 2022
10Shilla hotel in Da Nang recognized at World Travel Awards Shilla hotel in Da Nang recognized at World Travel Awards
Top 5 Entertainment News
1Aespa's VR concert to hit theaters Oct. 25 Aespa's VR concert to hit theaters Oct. 25
2BTS defies K-pop's 'seven-year curse' BTS defies K-pop's 'seven-year curse'
3Gang Dong-won becomes exorcist con artist in 'Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman' Gang Dong-won becomes exorcist con artist in 'Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman'
4'30 Days' promises laughter, unlikely romance '30 Days' promises laughter, unlikely romance
5ITZY's Lia takes break to put mental health first ITZY's Lia takes break to put mental health first
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group