Lee In-young: "Rapid Resumption of Panmunjom Tours Once COVID-19 Eases"

First Trip to Panmunjom After Inauguration... Urging North Korea to Implement the Inter-Korean Joint Declaration

Minister of Unification Lee In-young is receiving an explanation from an officer inside the JSA Guard Battalion in Panmunjom, Paju, Gyeonggi Province on the 16th.

Lee In-young, Minister of Unification, stated on the 16th, "If the COVID-19 situation eases, we will promptly resume tours of Panmunjom and the DMZ Peace Trail starting from October," urging North Korea to implement the inter-Korean joint declaration.

Ahead of the 2nd anniversary of the September 19 Inter-Korean Joint Declaration, Minister Lee visited Panmunjom for the first time since his appointment and said, "The government intends to begin with 'small approaches' in humanitarian and exchange cooperation areas that both Koreas can immediately undertake to implement the joint declaration."

Quoting the Latin phrase 'Pacta Sunt Servanda,' a fundamental principle of civil and international law meaning 'agreements must be kept,' he expressed hope that the North would respond to the implementation of the inter-Korean joint declaration.

He described the demolition of the inter-Korean liaison office as "regrettable," but added, "I believe the North also has a will to comply with agreements to some extent." Regarding North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s order to suspend military actions against the South, he said, "I interpret this as an effort to prevent further escalation of tensions."

Minister Lee emphasized, "I hope that consultation channels, including the inter-Korean liaison office, will be restored soon and frank dialogue will resume," adding, "To complete the decisions of the leaders on both sides and restart 'inter-Korean time,' joint efforts must continue."

While acknowledging the deadlock in North Korea?U.S. relations, he said, "I believe there are many areas where the two Koreas must find solutions together." He noted, "Humanitarian cooperation in healthcare, quarantine, and climate environment sectors should continue annually at a certain scale regardless of the situation, based on communication between South Korea and the U.S., to build mutual trust among South Korea, North Korea, and the U.S."

Additionally, Minister Lee mentioned the flood damage situation in North Korea and called for solidarity and cooperation between the two Koreas. He said, "We feel sorry for the damage caused in the North as much as the flood damage on our side," and added, "I hope that at an appropriate time, mutual solidarity and cooperation can be realized."