Work Report Held Amid Tensions Between Foreign Affairs and Unification Ministries
Presidential Office: "Active Exchange of Diverse Opinions Enables Discussion"
President Lee Jae-myung is having a meal at the cafeteria with Cho Hyun, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Chung Dong-young, Minister of Unification, after completing the work report of the Ministry of Unification and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the Government Seoul Office Annex on the 19th. Photo by Yonhap News
On the 19th, President Lee Jae-myung stated during the work report from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Unification, "I believe it is helpful for each ministry to maintain its own unique stance," adding, "This also has the effect of broadening our options when choosing foreign policy directions."
This remark is interpreted as an attempt to quell recent tensions between the so-called 'alliance faction' centered around the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the 'autonomy faction' comprised of former Ministry of Unification officials.
Kim Namjun, spokesperson for the Presidential Office, announced in a written briefing that President Lee made these comments during a closed-door work report from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Unification held at the Government Seoul Office earlier that morning. This is the first time President Lee has publicly addressed the issue since reports of conflict between the two ministries emerged.
Spokesperson Kim further explained, "A culture in which a variety of opinions can be actively expressed in all policy areas is necessary to enable sufficient deliberation and discussion," adding, "This aligns with the President's belief that only when the government operates in this way can inevitable conflicts in people's lives be reduced."
Previously, during the public work report from the two ministries, President Lee said, "We must do our utmost, with patience and a proactive, leading approach, to ease hostilities between the two Koreas and to allow even a small seed of trust to take root," emphasizing, "This is the role the Ministry of Unification must play." He thus highlighted that the Ministry of Unification should take the lead in North Korea policy.
However, President Lee also addressed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stating, "In a period of rapid change in the international order such as now, the role of diplomacy is crucial," and added, "Even peace itself seems to be most greatly influenced by diplomacy." He continued, "I ask the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to play a major role in expanding our economic territory. It appears the ministry is already preparing well, but our overseas missions must serve as both the bridgehead and the vanguard for this expansion."
After hearing the opinions of each ministry during the work report, President Lee instructed that a 'Security-Related Ministers' Meeting' be convened for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Unification, the Ministry of National Defense, and other relevant ministries to discuss these matters together, according to spokesperson Kim.
After the work report, President Lee had lunch at the Government Seoul Office Annex cafeteria with Prime Minister Kim Minseok, Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun, Minister of Unification Chung Dongyoung, and Chief Presidential Secretary Kang Hoonshik. Spokesperson Kim explained that the lunch took place in a relaxed atmosphere, with civil servants and staff from various agencies freely using the cafeteria.
Meanwhile, Cho Hyun, Minister of Foreign Affairs, held a press briefing after the work report and addressed the so-called 'autonomy faction versus alliance faction' conflict within the government, stating, "There is no such controversy within the government. There is only a practical diplomacy faction."
Regarding the controversy over discord in North Korea policy with the Ministry of Unification, he said, "It is not that there are no differences of opinion, but our goals are the same. Only the methods differ," adding, "We will make every diplomatic effort to turn the ideals presented by the Ministry of Unification into reality."
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