Lee In-young: "North Korea Should Prioritize Inter-Korean Dialogue Over Military Tensions"… On 'Candidacy Rumors,' He Says "Let's Wait and See"

Minister of Unification Lee In-young is delivering a greeting at the 4.27 Panmunjom Declaration 3rd Anniversary Commemoration Event, "Cooperation for Peace, Let's Start Again," held on the 27th in front of the DMZ gate at the northern end of the South-North Entry Office in Paju, Gyeonggi Province. 2021.4.27 Photo by Joint Press Corps

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Minister of Unification Lee In-young urged dialogue, saying that "it is desirable for North Korea to engage in inter-Korean dialogue rather than military tension," amid concerns that North Korea might provoke before and after the South Korea-US summit. Regarding speculation about his candidacy in the next presidential election, he took a reserved stance, saying, "Let's wait and see a little longer."

On the 7th, on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' Minister Lee responded to the host's question about the possibility of North Korea's military provocations before and after the South Korea-US summit by saying, "North Korea is well aware that military tensions caused significant disruptions during the Obama administration, so they will not repeat such mistakes," expressing this view.

Minister Lee said, "Rather than creating military tensions to promote improvement in North Korea-US relations or dialogue, it has been more effective to improve North Korea-US relations through the improvement of inter-Korean relations," adding, "In that regard, it is much more desirable for the North to take the path of inter-Korean dialogue or negotiations through North Korea-US dialogue rather than military tension."

Regarding the recent two attempts by the US to initiate dialogue with North Korea, which North Korea has ignored, he explained, "At a time when the outline of the US's North Korea policy is becoming clear, North Korea may not view such contact attempts negatively, and there might be some initial 'push and pull,' and more specifically, since the South Korea-US summit is imminent, it could be an exploratory move to wait and see a bit longer."

Regarding the South Korea-US summit scheduled for the 21st, he called it "the president's time," and said, "I hope it concludes with results that reflect the substance, direction, and achievements of the Korean Peninsula peace process that the government has been pursuing."

He added, "Especially, if the role of the South Korean government in Korean Peninsula peace, the US government's respect for cooperation and dialogue in improving inter-Korean relations, are reflected in the outcome, it will be positive for North Korea-US dialogue as well," and "there is a high possibility that it will create an opportunity for the Korean Peninsula peace process to start moving again."

Regarding voices within the ruling party calling for Minister Lee to run as a presidential candidate to achieve 'regime re-creation,' he said, "As a politician and party member, if there is anything I need to do related to regime re-creation, I have no intention of avoiding it," but added, "As Minister of Unification, I must devote all my efforts to improving the stalled inter-Korean relations and getting the Korean Peninsula peace process back on track."

However, when the host asked if he had definitively decided not to run, he took a reserved stance, saying, "Let's wait and see the situation a bit more. Watch what steps I take," and regarding calls to postpone the party primary, he said, "That is a matter for the party to decide," adding, "I am focusing on improving the stalled inter-Korean relations and advancing the Korean Peninsula peace process as Minister of Unification rather than thinking about running."