Lee In-young: "North Korea's 'Double Standard' Issue Must Be Resolved Through Inter-Korean Dialogue"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Lee In-young, Minister of Unification, expressed the position that the issue of abolishing the 'double standards' demanded by North Korea should be resolved through dialogue between South and North Korea.

On the 18th, during the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee's audit of the Ministry of Unification, Minister Lee stated, "Since there has been a process of development related to our autonomous national defense, I hope that during the military talks between South and North Korea, the issues can be resolved through dialogue."

Previously, the North had claimed through speeches by Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party, and statements by Kim Yo-jong, Deputy Director, that North Korea's missile development should not be defined as a 'provocation' and that this is a 'double standard' that must be abolished.

In response to a question from Cho Tae-yong, a member of the People Power Party, asking whether the abolition of the double standards could be accepted, Minister Lee replied, "At the previous Ministry of Foreign Affairs audit, Minister Chung Eui-yong clearly stated that (North Korea's demand) differs from the government's position," adding, "I also think it is different."

Minister Chung had stated on the 1st during the Ministry of Foreign Affairs audit that North Korea's demand to stop applying double standards was "undesirable."