Lee In-young: "Tongjeonbu Apology Letter, Sending Kim Jong-un's Official Position in Its Own Way"

Minister of Unification Lee In-young attended the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee plenary meeting held at the National Assembly on the 25th and received a briefing from a Unification Ministry official before the meeting began. At the meeting, Minister Lee provided a status report regarding the incident in which a government official was shot near Soyeonpyeongdo by North Korean forces. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Minister of Unification Lee In-young responded to the notice from the United Front Department containing an apology from North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un by saying, "It is an official statement sent by Chairman Kim."

On the 28th, during the plenary meeting of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, Minister Lee answered the question from Kim Ki-hyun, a member of the People Power Party, stating, "(The United Front Department) received Chairman Kim's intentions, organized them, and sent them to us, so it is, in a way, an official statement."

He added, "There are still areas where additional investigations or proposals for joint investigations remain," and said, "It is necessary to make further efforts to approach the differing parts substantively and practically."

Minister Lee also responded to a question from Cho Tae-yong, a member of the People Power Party, regarding the apology letter, saying, "We evaluated the very swift and unprecedented apology conveyed from the North," but added, "however, we do not think that it is sufficient or complete, and it is necessary to resolve it from the perspective of the bereaved families."

He continued, "In that regard, additional measures were discussed at the National Security Council (NSC)," and said, "a joint investigation process with the North is necessary."