Legislative Research Office: "North Korea Vaccine Support and Virtual Reunions for Separated Families... Our Government's Role is Crucial"

The view of Cheongwadae from Namsan, Seoul on the 11th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] The National Assembly Legislative Research Office has proposed vaccine support for North Korea and reunions of separated families as policy tasks. It emphasized the urgent need for the South Korean government's role based on the agreement reached at the May South Korea-US summit.

Investigators Lee Seung-hyun, Lee Seung-yeol, and Kim Do-hee from the Legislative Research Office recently released a current issue analysis report titled "The Biden Administration's North Korea Policy and Prospects for the Korean Peninsula Peace Process." They pointed out, "North Korea may focus all its efforts on employing a 'withstand strategy' or 'endure strategy' for the time being to raise its bargaining power at future negotiation tables with the US, building a high COVID-19 barrier to demonstrate its ability to survive under sanctions against North Korea."

They added, "In this environment, the South Korean government's role in bringing North Korea to the negotiation table is even more urgent," and suggested, "First, short-term and concrete tasks that can be promoted based on the South Korea-US leaders' agreement, such as humanitarian aid to North Korea and reunions of separated families, where there is no disagreement between South Korea and the US, could be proposed to North Korea."

They recalled that the South Korea-US leaders "promised to continue promoting humanitarian aid to North Korean residents who need help the most." The investigators stated, "The government needs to actively pursue the agreement from this South Korea-US summit after the domestic situation of the COVID-19 pandemic is alleviated or ended, and the production, supply, and vaccination of vaccines become smooth," adding, "Above all, providing COVID-19 vaccine support carries the justification of humanitarian aid and the practical usefulness of creating an opportunity for North Korea and the US to come to the dialogue table."

They further said, "Based on public consensus among our citizens, the option of officially publicizing vaccine support for North Korea as an agenda item to both North Korea and the US could be considered as one policy measure."

Food aid was also identified as a major task. The investigators noted, "North Korea is a chronically food-deficient country," and said, "At the 3rd plenary meeting of the 8th Party Central Committee in June, General Secretary Kim Jong-un expressed concerns about North Korea's food situation this year. This suggests that the food shortage problem in North Korea is coexisting with the COVID-19 pandemic, likely leading to the worst living conditions for North Korean residents." Food aid to North Korea could be used as a clue to rebuild trust between the two Koreas and to restart the Korean Peninsula peace process.

Resuming talks related to the Kaesong Industrial Complex and Mount Kumgang tourism was also listed as an agenda item. The investigators said, "On February 22, 2021, the Ministry of Unification announced it would review the resumption of the Kaesong Industrial Complex and Mount Kumgang tourism under North Korea sanctions," adding, "In the case of resuming operations at the Kaesong Industrial Complex, it is important to note that many approvals for exemptions from North Korea sanctions need to be negotiated. Therefore, rather than full-scale promotion in the short term, it may be possible to start inter-Korean cooperation and dialogue by having representatives of companies promoting Mount Kumgang tourism and companies located in the Kaesong Industrial Complex visit the respective areas to inspect their facilities."

Regarding separated families, considering COVID-19, they suggested, "It may be possible to proceed with consultations with North Korea with the specific goal of arranging video reunions," and noted, "Considering that this was mentioned at the South Korea-US summit, it would also be meaningful to prepare measures to allow Korean Americans with US nationality who are separated family members to participate in video reunions."