Lee In-young "Seoul-Pyongyang Representative Offices, Hope to Establish Contact Offices in Sinuiju, Rajin, and Seonbong"

Minister of Unification: "A New Inter-Korean Relationship Through the Reopening of the Liaison Office"
"The Blown-up Liaison Office Must Be Rebuilt for Greater Peace"

Minister of Unification Lee In-young is giving a greeting at the forum on "Developmental Resumption Plans for Inter-Korean Contact and Consultation Organizations" held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 23rd.

Minister of Unification Lee In-young stated on the 23rd that the inter-Korean joint liaison office in Kaesong, which was unilaterally blown up by North Korea, must be rebuilt, adding, "I hope to establish liaison offices and trade representative offices in Seoul, Pyongyang, as well as in Kaesong, Sinuiju, Rajin, and Seonbong areas."

In his opening remarks at the forum titled 'Seeking Developmental Measures for the Resumption of Inter-Korean Liaison and Consultation Organizations' held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building that day, Minister Lee said, "The restoration of the permanent inter-Korean communication line will be a signal marking the beginning of a 'time of peace'." He emphasized, "The change in the new inter-Korean relations will start with the resumption of communication at the inter-Korean joint liaison office."

Regarding North Korea's unilateral demolition of the liaison office building in the Kaesong Industrial Complex in June, citing the issue of leaflet distribution, Minister Lee criticized it as "an utterly irresponsible scene that cannot be tolerated under any circumstances, as if the history of inter-Korean relations is collapsing."

He continued, "Such actions by the North were a very wrong act that directly betrayed the hopes and aspirations of our people for peace."

However, Minister Lee stressed, "No matter what trials and difficulties we face, we must move forward again to make inter-Korean relations a future of peace and prosperity," adding, "It will not be easy, but we must not leave the destroyed liaison office as a relic of a hostile history; instead, we must rebuild it into greater peace."

Meanwhile, voices emphasizing the necessity of establishing a 'Seoul-Pyongyang resident representative office' were raised several times during the forum.

Kwon Taek-kwang, Director of the National Security Strategy Institute, also stated, "The most desirable measure is to upgrade the liaison office and establish a Seoul-Pyongyang resident representative office," adding, "Although North Korea has shown reluctance to establish a liaison office in Pyongyang, we must persuade and pressure them to accept the Pyongyang resident representative office in connection with improvements in North Korea-US relations."

Yang Moo-jin, Vice President of the University of North Korean Studies, argued, "If the consultation organization is reactivated in the future, it should take the form of a Seoul-Pyongyang resident representative office, which is a level above the Kaesong joint liaison office."

He said, "If future North Korea-US denuclearization negotiations gain momentum, a liaison office between North Korea and the US will be established, followed by the emergence of diplomatic missions. The lack of a comparable organization on our side could become a significant problem," adding, "Resident representative offices are subject to the Vienna Convention, which applies inviolability to diplomatic missions, so unilateral acts like North Korea's demolition can be prevented."