Regular Briefing by Spokesperson Koo Byoungsam

Date: Monday, October 14, 2024
Time: 10:30-10:38 A.M.

1. Minister's Schedule

Minister Kim Yung Ho is paying a courtesy visit to the supreme leader of Chondogyo Yoon Suk San today from 10:30 A.M.

At 2 P.M., Minister Kim will sit down for a meeting with EU Special Representative for human rights Olof Skoog.

At 6 P.M., Minister Kim will attend a meeting of the policy advisory council on North Korean human rights and humanitarian affairs.

On October 15, at 7 A.M., Minister Kim will deliver a special lecture at a breakfast meeting hosted by the Far East Broadcasting Company.

At 10 A.M., Minister Kim will attend the cabinet meeting.

On October 16, at 7:30 A.M., Minister Kim will attend a meeting of the policy advisory council on unification education.

At 11 A.M., Minister Kim will deliver remarks at the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the National Research Council for Economics, Humanities and Social Sciences.

2. Vice Minister's Schedule

Vice Minister Kim Soo Kyung will visit the Unification Plus(+) Center in the southwestern region of Korea and encourage North Korean defectors today at 11 A.M.

At 2 P.M., Vice Minister Kim will deliver congratulatory remarks at an event hosted by the Central Association for National Unification of Korea.

On October 16, at 10 A.M., Vice Minister Kim will visit the Great Vision School and deliver a special lecture for North Korean youth defectors.

At 2:30 P.M., Vice Minister Kim will see a play with resident of Gangwon Province to improve awareness of North Korean defectors.

On October 17, at 9 A.M., Vice Minister Kim will attend the vice ministers' conference.

3. Q&A

Q. North Korea raised tensions, issuing a number of statements under the name of vice department director Kim Yo Jong and a National Defence Ministry spokesman. How does the Unification Ministry evaluate the situation?

A. The North has a record of raising and exaggerating external crisis and tension to internally foster unity and strengthen control over its residents. This sudden commotion surrounding drones seems to have a similar intention.

Furthermore, it may be an attempt by the North to accumulate justification for provocation or create anxiety and confusion within our society. Whatever its intension is, there is nothing the North can gain from threats and provocations.

Q. North Korea claims that anti-DPRK leaflets were scattered on the nights of October 3, 9, and 10. Is the Unification Ministry aware of civic organizations that sent leaflets on these days?

A. The Ministry cannot confirm the North's claims. It is not appropriate to confirm or respond to each and every accusation made by the North.

Q. I am aware that the Ministry has been in contact with organizations that send anti-DPRK leaflets. Did any of the organizations use drones?

A. Please understand that we cannot confirm this either.

Q. Vice department director Kim Yo Jong's statement last night called on the South to come up with measures to prevent a recurrence of such provocation. Is the ROK Government willing to offer talks with the North Korean authorities in this regard? Or, will it respond to the North's request if it is offered?

A. The ROK Government has already proposed to establish an inter-Korean working group through the August 15 Unification Doctrine. Likewise, the Government has maintained since the announcement of the Audacious Initiative that the door for dialogue is open.

Q. So will the Ministry call for talks?

A. There is nothing more to confirm at this stage.

Q. Some experts say that the North is insisting that "if the South refrains from drone provocations, we won't do it either." Does the Government have any thoughts on preventing drone provocations or any other possible response ideas?

A. First of all, the Government cannot confirm whether the North's claims are true or not, and as mentioned, the North's intentions are closely related to its internal matters. This in itself serves as an answer to your question.

Q. If I were to reword the question, this all connects back to the issue of leaflets. Does the Government have plans to request civic organizations to stop scattering leaflets toward the North?

A. I would like to reiterate that the Ministry maintains its position regarding the distribution of leaflets toward the North.

Q. It has been noted that private organizations have in the past sent drones near Mount Geumgang or further into North Korea. Is the Ministry still overseeing such organizations?

A. I have seen media reports about private organizations flying drones to the North. Whether such organizations were monitored by the Government needs to checked. I will let you know if there is more to share.

Q. While the Government keeps repeating that it cannot confirm the North Korean claim, some criticize that such negligence further escalates tensions and even condemn that the Government is trying to take advantage of this crisis for internal political purposes. Does the Government have a position regarding such criticism?

A. As mentioned earlier, the North frequently creates inter-Korean conflict when deemed necessary. This was the case in June 2020 when the North demolished the South-North Joint Liaison Office, as well as when the North raised tensions in 2015 through landmine provocations. As such, the North has a record of escalating tensions to satisfy their own needs or purposes. I reiterate that the ROK Government maintains a firm military readiness posture.

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