Minister Kang Kyung-hwa on the North Korea Shooting Incident: "Willingness for Dialogue and Patience May Weaken, but Long-term Peace Approach Must Be Maintained"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Kang Kyung-wha, Minister of Foreign Affairs, who attended the virtual meeting held by the Asia Society on the 25th in conjunction with the 75th United Nations General Assembly, expressed the position that "nevertheless, a long-term peaceful approach must be maintained" regarding the incident in which North Korea shot and burned the body of a South Korean official who went missing at sea near Soyeonpyeongdo.

At the virtual meeting, in response to the moderator's question about whether the incident marked a setback for denuclearization and the peace process on the Korean Peninsula, Minister Kang said, "Whether it is a setback or progress should be judged from a long-term perspective," adding, "Whenever such incidents occur, our willingness to engage in dialogue and patience weaken, but a long-term peaceful approach must be maintained."

During the virtual meeting, the moderator also asked Minister Kang to assess the situation on the Korean Peninsula, mentioning that while President Moon Jae-in requested the international community to support a 'Declaration of the End of War' at the UN General Assembly, North Korea shot a South Korean resident and blew up the liaison office in June.

In response, Minister Kang said that North Korea is facing difficulties due to the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and flood damage, and that inter-Korean-US dialogue is at a standstill, stating, "Dealing with a closed and isolated country is very difficult but requires great patience." She added, "We hope North Korea will return to the dialogue table for denuclearization and inter-Korean cooperation, and we are sending messages urging dialogue."