Kwon Young-se "North Korean Displaced Families Invitation, A Matter to Examine Carefully"

"Not a Matter to Decide Rashly" in Response to National Assembly Foreign Affairs Committee Inquiry
Invitation from 'Jaechung Yujanyeo Muyeok Jipdan Pyeongtong Risahoe'

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] Minister of Unification Kwon Young-se said regarding the North-South Dispersed Families Association receiving an invitation from the North and applying for a visit to North Korea, "This needs to be carefully examined and is not something to be decided hastily."

On the 15th, at the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee plenary session, when Rep. Jeong Jin-seok of the People Power Party asked, "North Korea sent an invitation to the North-South Dispersed Families Association; how do you plan to handle this?" Minister Kwon replied, "The name of the North Korean institution that invited the North-South Dispersed Families Association is the Jaejung Yujanyeo Muyeok Jipdan Pyeongtong Risahoe," introducing it as such.

Kwon Young-se, Minister of Unification

Rep. Jeong confirmed whether the North-South Dispersed Families Association had applied for the visit, and Minister Kwon said, "The inviting organization is not well known, and the person the association president is scheduled to meet has no relation to dispersed families," adding, "There is also ambiguity regarding the foreigner overseeing the entire matter, so it seems necessary to examine this carefully."

Earlier, Ryu Jae-bok, president of the North-South Dispersed Families Association, received an invitation from the North and on the 10th submitted a North Korean resident contact report and a visit approval application to the Ministry of Unification.

According to the invitation letter obtained by this outlet, the North invited three association officials?President Ryu, Director Maeng Jeong-ah, and Director Choi Im-ho?to Pyongyang in November last year. The document states, "To discuss civilian-level projects related to North-South dispersed families, we invite three members of the South's North-South Dispersed Families Association delegation," and "When the above delegation visits Pyongyang, their safety and accommodation expenses will be provided."

According to sources, the sender of the invitation is presumed to be an organization managed by the General Company under the United Front Department of North Korea, but the Ministry of Unification plans to re-examine the nature and reliability of the inviting institution as well as overall aspects, since it is not an organization previously identified. Also, under the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Act, the processing period for visit applications is seven days from the date of receipt, meaning President Ryu should receive a decision by the 17th. However, the Ministry of Unification indicated that additional time may be required for document review and supplementation, making it difficult to specify a processing deadline.