"Due to the recent visit of high-ranking North Korean officials to Incheon and an agreement to resume inter-Korea talks, the Korean people expected an improved inter-Korea relationship. Uncertainty has escalated, however, because of shots fired across the Northern Limit Line in the Yellow Sea and the military demarcation line. Inter-Korea relations show such two-sided aspects. It is very dangerous to change the environment of inter-Korea relations with one rash judgment. For this reason, the South Korean government will firmly respond to any provocations and make efforts to help peace take root, all while keeping the dialogue channels open. People say, 'Dialogue is needed, even when at war.' We need to continue to talk in order to ease the tension and to build peace on the Korean Peninsula.

We need to give high-level contact a chance to improve inter-Korea ties. In regard to the issue of the so-called 'May 24 Sanctions,' which receives much attention these days, both governments need to meet and hold a dialogue in a responsible, sincere manner in order to solve the issues. Now is the time for the Unification Preparation Committee to play a role in moving the will of the people toward reunification, without having to focus on outside circumstances."

So said President Park Geun-hye on October 13 during the second round of meetings of the Unification Preparation Committee at Cheong Wa Dae. She said that high-level contact should be used as an opportunity to improve inter-Korea relations. The authorities of both governments need to meet and solve their pending issues. The president emphasized that the presidential committee on unification should unite the will of the people and encourage them to support reunification.

She ordered the committee to set up an action plan in order to achieve peaceful reunification. The president told the committee to take concrete action, such as basic preparation projects, in order to take the first steps in constructing the World Eco-Peace Park in the demilitarized zone.



President Park asked the committee to make a charter for peaceful reunification in order to focus the will of the people and to create a consensus for reunification. “The charter should contain concrete, realistic messages so that the Korean people can know what they need to do in order to prepare for the process of reunification, and what values and vision we should seek after reunification,” said the president. She urged the committee to, “Have the charter contain a clear message, not propaganda, so that people can make clear goals and prepare for unification with individual passion.”

The president further urged that the committee should set up more substantial measures and take action in order to upgrade the quality of life of the North Korean people. “If we carry out cooperation projects in terms of infrastructure for the livelihood of the people, it would contribute to communication and to restoring the bond of unity between the people of all of Korea,” she said. President Park also emphasized that exchanges in sports and the arts should be extended in order to form a bond of sympathy and to rebuild national unity of the two societies.

By Yoon Sojung
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Cheong Wa Dae
arete@korea.kr