Unification Ministry Rejects 'North Korea Invitation'... Issues Warning to the Korean War Bereaved Families Association

Ministry of Unification Warns 3 People for 'Unreported Contact with North Korean Residents'
"Rejected Claiming Issuing Authority Unclear," Sparks Backlash

The Ministry of Unification has sent a warning letter to the Corporation of the South-North Separated Families Association, which had applied for a visit to North Korea after receiving an invitation from the North. The reason given was the failure to report the necessary notifications before and after contact with North Korean residents. However, the association is protesting, saying this action contradicts the Ministry of Unification's previous stance of rejecting the visit application due to the unclear issuing organization of the invitation letter.

The Ministry of Unification announced on the 6th that it had sent a written warning to the South-North Separated Families Association on the 2nd. The recipients are Chairman Ryu Jaebok, Ms. Maeng Jeonga, and Mr. Choi Imho, who received invitation letters from the North under the pretext of discussing separated family issues. The violation of the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Act cited by the Ministry is "failure to report contact with North Korean residents during the issuance and receipt of the invitation letter."

Separated Families

Under current law, South Korean residents must notify the Minister of Unification in advance if they intend to contact North Korean residents through harmony, communication, or other means. If there are "unavoidable reasons" as defined by presidential decree, notification can be made within seven days after contact. However, the Ministry of Unification explained that the three association officials contacted North Korean residents without reporting.

Earlier, the association received an invitation letter in November last year under the name of the "Overseas Chinese Children Trade Group Peaceful Unification Advisory Council" and applied for a visit to North Korea on the 10th of last month. The document obtained by this outlet states, "We invite three members of the South-North Separated Families Association from the South to discuss civilian-level separated family-related projects," and "When the above group visits Pyongyang, safety guarantees and accommodation expenses will be provided."

However, the Ministry of Unification judged that "the invitation letter does not practically qualify as a document confirming the invitation intention from North Korean authorities or organizations," and rejected the visit application on the 17th of last month. Two days before the rejection, Minister Kwon Young-se explained at the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee plenary meeting that "the organization is unknown not only to the Ministry of Unification but also to other ministries," indicating the issuing organization was unclear.

Chairman Ryu Jaebok expressed concern about the shrinking of separated family reunion activities. He said, "The invitation letter was received through a Taiwanese official, and I have never directly contacted the North, so this warning letter is absurd," and added, "They rejected the visit application because the issuing organization was unclear, and now they are issuing a warning for contacting North Korean residents. Doesn't this mean they acknowledge the existence of the organization?"

The Ministry of Unification's position is that regardless of whether the issuing organization is confirmed, if there is an "intention to contact" the North, any direct or indirect exchange of intentions must be reported. A Ministry official said, "Even in cases of contact through intermediaries, exchanging intentions with North Korean residents counts as contact and must be reported," and "The three individuals exchanged personal information contained in the invitation letter, which is why the warning was issued."

Meanwhile, the South-North Separated Families Association plans to reapply for the visit to North Korea once they complete the supplementary documents requested by the Ministry of Unification and the statement on the receipt of the invitation letter.