[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] North Korea did not respond to the proposal for working-level talks on COVID-19 prevention cooperation on the morning of the 18th.
The Ministry of Unification stated that at 9 a.m. that day, the opening call between the North and the Inter-Korean Liaison Office was conducted normally, but there was no mention of the notification letter to the North.
A Ministry of Unification official said, "The opening call was conducted normally," and added, "There was no exchange of any special content."
Since the government attempted to send a notification letter to North Korea on the morning of the 16th through the Inter-Korean Joint Liaison Office proposing working-level talks on COVID-19 prevention cooperation, it repeatedly inquired about receipt, but the North did not acknowledge receiving it.
The notification letter from Unification Minister Kwon Young-se to Kim Yong-chol, head of the United Front Department in the North, states the willingness to provide vaccines, medicines, masks, diagnostic tools, and to carry out technical cooperation such as sharing South Korea's quarantine experience.
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