Kim Namjoong, the newly appointed Vice Minister of Unification (age 62, 33rd class of the civil service exam), stated on June 23, "We must begin by addressing small issues, such as reopening inter-Korean communication lines, to untangle the complex threads of inter-Korean relations." He emphasized, "Peace is economy," and added, "To establish a sustainable foundation for policy implementation, we need to build a 'peace industry' where people from various backgrounds and experts interested in peace issues can actively participate."
In his inaugural address on this day, Vice Minister Kim said, "Even if the road ahead is long, we must not rush but instead calmly and steadily build trust between the two Koreas, step by step." He cited President Lee Jaemyung's words, "No matter how expensive, peace is better than war," and stressed the importance of "dialogue and cooperation" for peace on the Korean Peninsula.
Vice Minister Kim expressed concern, saying, "Currently, peace on the Korean Peninsula faces greater challenges than we ever imagined," and added, "It has been quite a long time since dialogue between the two Koreas was cut off, and North Korea's insistence on being 'two hostile states' has further widened the distance between us." He also noted, "The international situation, including the four major powers surrounding the Korean Peninsula, is filled with an unpredictable sense of tension," and added, "The Korean Peninsula is in a state of crisis, as if walking on a knife's edge."
He urged the staff, saying, "We must objectively reflect on the policy implementation process thus far," and continued, "We must painfully examine whether we lacked courage and imagination, whether we insisted on rigid approaches, and whether we gave sufficient consideration to the needs of policy stakeholders."
Vice Minister Kim stated, "The Ministry of Unification must now also contribute to the lives of the people as a ministry focused on public welfare," and added, "We need to develop policies that address the realities of people's lives, such as ensuring the safety and development of residents in border areas, expanding cooperation with local governments, supporting humanitarian issues for separated families, families of prisoners of war, abductees, and detainees, and strengthening employment support for North Korean defectors."
Regarding the Ministry of Unification, which has experienced ups and downs depending on each administration's North Korea policy, he said, "At this new starting point, we must ensure that the Ministry does not face another period of being undervalued,"
and continued, "Let us work to build a more solid organization where everyone's abilities and expertise are respected
and where a culture of communication is fostered."
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