[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, emphasized inter-Korean exchange cooperation at the local government level as a solution to ease the strained inter-Korean relations during the "Roundtable for Peace on the Korean Peninsula and Restoration of Inter-Korean Relations" held at the Gyeonggi Provincial Government on the 12th, stating, "Small things can come together to create a big flow."
On that day, Governor Lee said, "Inter-Korean cooperation at the central government level can be greatly influenced by international relations and can be very political, so cooperation at the local government level can be more efficient," and added, "Many small but practical efforts at the local government and private levels need to be made."
He particularly noted, "Even amid escalating tensions and conflicts, cooperative projects between Gyeonggi Province and North Korea are underway," and expressed hope that "the ongoing exchange and cooperation projects of Gyeonggi Province will become the foundation for larger cooperation projects at the central government level."
Governor Lee cited examples such as continuing humanitarian cooperation by providing COVID-19 and ASF quarantine supplies and obtaining UN exemptions from sanctions related to agricultural cooperation projects, even while inter-Korean relations were strained due to the demolition of the inter-Korean joint liaison office.
The attendees on the day also actively agreed with Governor Lee's views and highly evaluated Gyeonggi Province's efforts in promoting inter-Korean exchange and cooperation projects.
National Assembly member Yoon Gun-young said, "If the central government is the expressway, then local governments are the national roads," adding, "While expressways require a lot of time and resources, national roads can be made much more easily by properly maintaining the paths. I hope Gyeonggi Province calmly prepares specialized projects related to COVID-19 and ASF."
Jung Se-hyun, Senior Vice Chairman of the National Unification Advisory Council, said, "Gyeonggi Province has built a national road when the expressway tollgate has not yet opened," and requested, "Now, Gyeonggi Province should play a guiding role to maintain the hand-holding relationship with North Korea and help ease relations. Please continue to do small but significant work that can create a large stream."
The roundtable also formed a consensus on the positive evaluation of Gyeonggi Province's measures to ban the distribution of leaflets to North Korea and the necessity of legislation to prohibit leaflet distribution.
Former Minister of Unification Lee Jong-seok said, "Gyeonggi Province took direct measures, including issuing administrative orders by finding various laws and regulations, and I believe these measures helped lead the situation and solve problems," and evaluated, "Especially since North Korea also announced a suspension of military issues, I think Gyeonggi Province's efforts became a significant justification."
Senior Vice Chairman Jung Se-hyun agreed, saying, "I agree that Gyeonggi Province's preemptive measures played a decisive role in suspending North Korea's military actions," and explained, "It acted as a catalyst for the government and the National Assembly to expedite legislative activities related to leaflet distribution."
In response, Governor Lee said, "The issue of leaflets to North Korea must be blocked as it concerns community safety, environmental protection, and is clearly an agreement between the South and North Korean leaders," and urged, "Gyeonggi Province will block it more strongly. I also ask the National Assembly to definitely promote legislation."
Furthermore, Governor Lee added, "In the past, Germany maintained East Germany policies consistently even when regimes changed and moved toward unification, but in our case, inter-Korean relations change with regime changes," and said, "At this opportunity, agreements between the South and North Korean leaders need to quickly go through the National Assembly ratification process. Even if the main arteries cannot be connected, Gyeonggi Province will promote inter-Korean cooperation projects within its capacity to connect the capillaries and maintain minimal life."
The roundtable was attended by Governor Lee Jae-myung, Senior Vice Chairman Jung Se-hyun of the National Unification Advisory Council, former Minister of Unification Lee Jong-seok, National Assembly member Yoon Gun-young, and others, who engaged in a heated discussion on topics such as evaluation of measures to prevent leaflet distribution to North Korea, the necessity of legislation to ban leaflet distribution, Gyeonggi Province's role and achievements in inter-Korean exchange and cooperation, the impact of the surrounding situation on the Korean Peninsula, and practical measures at the local government level.
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