Namjung Kim, the newly appointed Vice Minister of Unification, stated on June 21, "Please make efforts to resolve urgent issues one by one, such as restoring the severed communication channels between South and North Korea."
Namjung Kim, Vice Minister of Unification, Yonhap News
According to the Ministry of Unification, Vice Minister Kim held his first executive meeting at the Government Complex Seoul on this day, which was both a holiday and his first day in office. He emphasized, "In accordance with the President's policy direction, we must strive toward the goals of 'peaceful coexistence' and a 'peace economy,'” making this request to the staff.
North Korea unilaterally cut off the inter-Korean communication channel on April 7, 2023. Since then, the South Korean side has continued to attempt contact twice a day, at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., but the North has not responded. Later, on December 30 of the same year, North Korea declared the inter-Korean relationship to be that of "hostile two states."
Meanwhile, on June 19, the Ministry of Unification conducted a policy briefing for the National Policy Planning Committee. During this session, it was reported that there were suggestions to change the ministry's name to "Ministry of Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation" or "Ministry of Inter-Korean Relations."
Regarding this, Vice Minister Kim, while reviewing current issues of the ministry, stated, "Inter-Korean relations have changed significantly compared to the past amid rapidly shifting international circumstances," and added, "We must reconsider our North Korea and unification policies and the direction of our organization to adapt to these new conditions."
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