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| Unification Minister Kwon Young-se speaks during an impromptu press conference held at the Government Complex Seoul, Thursday. He proposed talks with North Korea on resuming meetings to reunite separated families. Yonhap |
Second time for Yoon Suk-yeol government to propose talks on humanitarian issues
By Kang Hyun-kyung
Unification Minister Kwon Young-se proposed inter-Korean talks on resuming meetings to reunite separated families on Thursday, a day before the start of the Chuseok holiday.
The proposal was unveiled during an unscheduled press conference held at the Government Complex Seoul.
The unification minister suggested that officials of the two Koreas sit down as soon as possible so they can find "fundamental solutions" ― rather than a one-off event for political purposes ― for families that have been tragically separated since the 1950-53 Korean War.
"The one-off sort of reunion among the relatively small group of separated families is not sufficient to solve the problem fundamentally," he said, while explaining what he had in mind regarding the idea of reunions. He did not elaborate on what he meant by "fundamental solutions."
"I hope that those responsible for the matter in the two Koreas can meet in person as soon as possible to discuss humanitarian issues, including the reunions of the separated families," he said.
The unification minister said South Korea is open-minded and willing to meet representatives from the North, and the South is ready to accept its northern neighbor's ideas about when, where, what kind of issues to be discussed and the format for talks within reason.
He then urged the North to respond to his proposal.
As of August this year, a total of 43,746 people in the two Koreas are living separated from loved ones. The figure went down by some 4,000 from last year. Most of the Koreans still alive after experiencing separation are now in their 80s and 90s, thus the number falls drastically year after year as they pass away.
South Korea's offer for talks with the North is the second of its kind made since President Yoon Suk-yeol took office on May 10. On May 16, the South proposed a working-level meeting with North Korea on COVID-19 quarantine cooperation. It came as the North was grappling with the infectious disease, which it alleges South Korea spread to the North through leaflets. North Korea, however, has not taken up the offer.
President Yoon has maintained a hardline stance toward North Korea's nuclear and missile programs, but has left room for inter-Korean cooperation on humanitarian issues. Kwon's proposal for talks with North Korea seems to have been made with this in mind.
Minister Kwon said the reunions of the separated families remains a timely issue, particularly as the nation is celebrating Chuseok, during which Koreans hold family gatherings in their hometowns.
"I don't think there are preconditions or things that should come first or later in inter-Korean relations. But, I believe the proposal for talks for the reunions of the separated families can be a trigger that can help solve other issues that stand between the two Koreas' relations," said the minister, noting that he would continue to propose inter-Korean talks even if North Korea turns a deaf ear to his proposal or criticizes him for it.
