In 2021, South Korea’s North Korea policy focuses on restoring contacts and restarting the dialogue between the two countries

　　China News Service, January 22nd, South Korean media reported that in 2020, the peace process on the Korean Peninsula will be difficult.

How will the relationship between South Korea and North Korea develop in 2021?

Recently, the Moon Jae-in government of South Korea revealed its work plan for the DPRK in the New Year, saying that it will work hard to restore communication channels between the two countries, and strive to restart the dialogue between South Korea and the DPRK and between the DPRK and the United States to promote substantial progress in the peace process on the Korean Peninsula.

On June 16, 2020 local time, a thick smoke rose in the Kaesong Industrial Park of North Korea where the North Korea-South Korea Liaison Office is located, and the North Korea-South Korea Liaison Office in the Kaesong Industrial Park of North Korea was blasted.

Various departments of the South Korean government strive to restart the dialogue between South Korea and North Korea

　　On January 21, local time, South Korean Unification Minister Lee In-young, Defense Minister Xu Xu, and Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-hwa reported on the 2021 work plan to South Korean President Moon Jae-in that they would strive to restart the dialogue between South Korea and North Korea and promote peace on the Korean Peninsula. process.

　　South Korea's Unification Minister Lee In-young proposed five core issues, including restoring the channels of communication between South Korea and North Korea and restarting dialogue, promoting the peace process on the Korean Peninsula, and striving to achieve denuclearization and permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Lee In Young pointed out that the South Korean Unification Ministry will work hard to restore the communication channels between South Korea and North Korea that have been cut off since June 2020, and strive to open a permanent representative office in Seoul and Pyongyang.

The Ministry of Unification will also seek to hold military talks between South Korea and North Korea, restart the military joint committee, and strive to implement the "September 19 Military Agreement."

　　South Korean Defense Minister Xu Xu also stated that according to the work plan, the Ministry of National Defense will strive to hold regular military talks with the North Korean side this year to step up the process of regaining wartime operational command from the United States.

　　On the diplomatic front, South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyunghwa said on the 21st that he would strive to restart the dialogue between the DPRK and the US as soon as possible.

In terms of South Korean-US relations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to hold summit talks and high-level exchanges with the US as soon as possible to discuss the resumption of the DPRK-US dialogue and the denuclearization process, laying a foundation for real progress in the peace process on the Korean Peninsula.

Data map: South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

Photo courtesy of the Blue House

Moon Jae-in hopes to break the deadlock and promote peace on the peninsula

　　President Moon Jae-in of South Korea presided over the National Security Conference (NSC) plenary meeting at the Blue House on the 21st and expressed the hope that all departments would "go all out" to break the deadlock in North Korea-U.S. relations and between South Korea and North Korea.

　　Moon Jae-in said that achieving peace and prosperity on the Korean peninsula is "the long-cherished wish of the Korean nation." The South Korean government will join hands with the Biden administration of the United States to deepen cooperation and promote the peace process on the Korean peninsula.

　　He emphasized that the government will strive for North Korea to return to the road of dialogue and cooperation, and hopes that all departments will take the initiative to carry out cross-department cooperation.

　　Prior to this, Moon Jae-in said at the New Year's press conference held on the 18th that he would be willing to hold talks with Kim Jong-un, chairman of the North Korean State Council, if he could promote the development of relations between South Korea and North Korea.