Lee In-young "COVID-19 Vaccine Support to North Korea Directly Linked to South Korea's Stability"

"Vaccine and Treatment Cooperation Is for Residents, Not the North Korean Regime"
Ministry of Unification: "Intended to Convey Sincerity of Inter-Korean Health Cooperation"

Minister of Unification Lee In-young is attending the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee plenary meeting held at the National Assembly on the 26th, organizing documents. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

On the 26th, Lee In-young, Minister of Unification, stated regarding the support of COVID-19 vaccines to North Korea, "Stabilizing the COVID-19 situation in North Korea is directly linked to ensuring the stability of South Korea's COVID-19 situation."

Minister Lee appeared before the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee that day and responded to a question from Kim Seok-ki, a member of the People Power Party, who said, "It is difficult to understand why we should share vaccines with North Korea, which claims to have no confirmed cases despite not having secured any vaccines." Lee replied, "Vaccines and therapeutics can be an important part of the cooperation process."

Minister Lee emphasized that cooperation on vaccines and therapeutics is for the "North Korean people," not the "North Korean regime."

To Jeong Jin-seok, a People Power Party lawmaker who asked whether the South Korean government's vaccine procurement plan includes provisions for support to the North, Lee answered, "Not yet," but added, "However, there has been some consideration regarding therapeutics."

Regarding his meeting with business officials on the 23rd, the 10th anniversary of the Yeonpyeong Island shelling, where he emphasized inter-Korean economic cooperation, Minister Lee said, "It was an expression to create a bit more hope," and added, "When there is even a slight possibility that the situation could change, it is necessary for the government and the private sector to prepare together."

Earlier, on the 18th, Minister Lee appeared on KBS News 9 and said, "If South and North Korea can cooperate on therapeutics and vaccines, North Korea could create an opportunity to alleviate some of the economic sacrifices it has endured due to its COVID-19 quarantine system."

He also proposed sharing COVID-19 vaccines between the two Koreas, saying, "I believe that sharing when we are somewhat lacking, rather than sharing because we have plenty, is the true form of sharing."

Criticism arose that Minister Lee's remarks were inappropriate given that the government has yet to secure COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics.

In response, the Ministry of Unification explained on the 26th that the remarks were intended to convey the sincerity of inter-Korean health cooperation. A ministry official told reporters that day, "We understand there are critical tones," but asked to "interpret it as a strong expression of our government's commitment to health cooperation."