Speeding Up the Five Major Projects of Inter-Korean Cooperation, Mobilizing All Diplomatic Channels

Lee Soo-hyuk "Urgent Need for Inter-Korean Railway Connection... ROK-US Working Group, Uncomfortable but Efficient"
Accelerating Ministry of Unification Reorganization and More

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Since President Moon Jae-in expressed his independent will for inter-Korean cooperation through his New Year's address and press conference, the government has been accelerating its five major inter-Korean cooperation projects. In preparation for the full-scale resumption of exchanges and cooperation with North Korea, the Ministry of Unification has reorganized its structure and expanded the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund, while mobilizing all diplomatic channels to garner support from related countries.

Lee Soo-hyuk, South Korea's ambassador to the United States, has also supported the government's policy to broaden its scope of action for improving inter-Korean relations. At a press briefing held on the 21st (local time) at the Korean Cultural Center in Washington DC, Ambassador Lee described President Moon's New Year's address as a "rational and correct policy." The inter-Korean cooperation plan presented by President Moon consists of five pillars: ▲ Resumption of the Kaesong Industrial Complex and Mount Kumgang tourism ▲ Cooperation in border areas ▲ Joint entrance and unified teams at the Tokyo Olympics ▲ Inter-Korean railway and road connection projects ▲ Joint registration of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Ambassador Lee identified the inter-Korean railway connection as the most urgent project to be pursued. He explained, "I believe President Moon judged that drawing out a virtuous cycle effect between the two Koreas and moving toward inter-Korean consultations would help resume North Korea-US negotiations," adding, "I think the railway connection project is something that should be done urgently."

However, considering that the US government is pressuring North Korea to comply with sanctions through various channels and consultations via the Korea-US working group, he also expressed a cautious stance. Ambassador Lee emphasized, "The government's major principle for the projects it pursues is to do as much as possible within the framework of international sanctions," and "Basically, the US position has never denied that inter-Korean cooperation helps denuclearization and is absolutely necessary for improving North Korea-US relations."

He added, "The South Korean government is also consulting with the position and materials that the projects do not violate sanctions, so this does not reflect any negative stance toward the working group," and "Although there are some inconveniences, we are exchanging opinions efficiently."

Statements emphasizing speed also came from Lee Do-hoon, director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Peace and Security Negotiation Headquarters on the Korean Peninsula, who visited the US last week and held talks with Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun, the chief negotiator on North Korea’s nuclear issue. Returning home last weekend, Director Lee said regarding Korea-US consultations for improving inter-Korean relations, "It has just started, and since we cannot afford to delay, we plan to proceed with consultations quickly and with a sense of urgency," emphasizing, "We reaffirmed the US government's supportive stance on improving inter-Korean relations."

Song Young-gil, a member of the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, who received Director Lee’s report, also conveyed a positive outcome of the Korea-US consultations. In a CBS interview on the 22nd, Representative Song said, "From Director Lee’s report, unlike the negative stance expressed by Harry Harris, the US ambassador to South Korea, it seems that talks with Deputy Secretary Biegun went well," explaining, "Although there is no definite conclusion yet regarding individual tourism to North Korea, I understand that positive dialogue has taken place."

The pace of inter-Korean cooperation projects is expected to accelerate depending on North Korea’s response. Some view that since North Korea has sent a notification demanding the removal of all South Korean facilities in the Mount Kumgang tourism zone, it is unlikely to respond positively to proposals such as individual tourism. A Ministry of Foreign Affairs official said, "Although issues related to individual tourism to North Korea are currently highlighted, there are various projects," adding, "We are continuously consulting with relevant ministries."

On the 26th, at Panmun Station in Kaesong, North Korea, Kim Yun-hyuk, Vice Minister of Railways, is signing the sleepers as part of the detailed schedule for the groundbreaking ceremony of the inter-Korean railway and road connection and modernization project. / Photo by Joint Press Corps