Unification Minister Lee In-young visited Panmunjom and urged North Korea to restore inter-Korean communication channels, free inter-Korean exchanges within Panmunjom, and reunions of separated families through Panmunjom.
At the opening ceremony of the Panmunjom Tour Support Center on the morning of today (4th), Minister Lee In-young suggested this to North Korea, saying he hoped to open up the frozen waters of inter-Korean relations with'three small steps' toward peace.
Regarding the restoration of the inter-Korean communication channel, Lee said he hopes that communication between the South's'Freedom House' and the North's'Panmungak' will be restored.
Regarding the free traffic in Panmunjom, Minister Lee said, “I hope that we will find a way to freely cross borders even within the Panmunjom space,” as the two Koreas have achieved demilitarization.
"When considering the desperateness of separated families, even a small reunion should be resumed at Panmunjom". "If it is difficult immediately due to the coronavirus situation, it should be promoted in an'un-tact' manner such as video reunion and correspondence. I did.
Minister Lee met with reporters at the opening ceremony and said, "Inter-Korean relations are still showing the possibility of improving the situation rather than intensifying or going to a catastrophe." "The North is paying attention to the possibility of changing the phenomenon of inter-Korean relations."
(Photo = Yonhap News)