North Korea Abolishes Inter-Korean Cooperation Laws and Agreements... Ministry of Unification Warns "Will Only Deepen Isolation"

North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un provided on-site guidance to local industrial factories in Kimhwa County on the 7th, according to a report by Korean Central Television on the 8th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The South Korean government stated that North Korea's abolition of inter-Korean economic cooperation (Gyeonghyeop) laws and agreements will "only lead to further isolation of North Korea."

An official from the Ministry of Unification said to reporters on the 8th regarding North Korea's unilateral abolition of the economic cooperation agreements, "We do not consider the agreements to be nullified solely by North Korea's unilateral declaration of abolition," adding this statement.

Earlier, North Korea's state media, Korean Central News Agency, reported that the 30th plenary meeting of the 14th Supreme People's Assembly Standing Committee was held at the Mansudae Assembly Hall the previous day. At this meeting, the North-South Economic Cooperation Law, the Mount Kumgang International Tourism Special Zone Law and its enforcement regulations, and related inter-Korean economic cooperation agreements were proposed and adopted for abolition.

According to the Ministry of Unification, a total of 258 agreements have been concluded between the two Koreas. Among them, 112 agreements (including 28 joint press releases) are classified as economic agreements. These include provisions for food loans, investment guarantees between the two Koreas, inter-Korean commercial arbitration, railway and road connection and operation, construction and operation of the Kaesong Industrial Complex, Mount Kumgang tourism, inter-Korean fisheries cooperation, agricultural cooperation, maritime shipping, light industry and underground resource development cooperation, as well as healthcare and environmental protection cooperation. North Korea has not disclosed which specific agreements have been abolished.

However, since inter-Korean economic cooperation is effectively suspended at present, no significant changes are expected immediately. A Ministry of Unification official explained, "Inter-Korean economic cooperation is currently not underway," and "The government has no imminent measures planned." Since Kim Jong-un's rise to power, international sanctions on North Korea have made it difficult for many agreements to be implemented. In fact, there are several agreements that South Korea has fulfilled but North Korea has not.