On February 20th, Unification Minister Kim Young Ho made a compelling statement, highlighting the resilience of the North Korean people despite the regime’s efforts to control and isolate them from the rest of the world.
Speaking at a seminar in Seoul aimed at shedding light on North Korea’s economic and social dynamics, as well as the future direction of policies for unification, Minister Kim revealed insights from the North Korean Economic and Social Conditions Awareness Report.
Minister Kim explained, “Through the Awareness Report, we were able to understand the reality of the North Korean marketplace and how our dramas and movies affect North Korean residents’ lives. We also confirmed the negative perception of the North Korean residents toward the hereditary succession of power.”
Furthermore, he added about the Awareness Report, “As we can observe the changes in North Korean economy and society and vividly approach the perceptions of North Korean residents, we expect it to contribute to the correct understanding of the reality of North Korea by our citizens and to generate interest in North Korean human rights and unification issues.”
The Awareness Report analyzes the results of in-depth interviews with 6,351 North Korean defectors over the past 10 years by the Ministry of Unification, analyzing the 20 years before and after Kim Jong Un took power. It was released earlier this month.
Minister Kim stated, “As the control and repression of the North Korean regime intensifies, the sprouts of change will take root more firmly. The government will continue to build public consensus and strengthen solidarity with the international community to promote the human rights of North Koreans and support the right changes in North Korea.”
He concluded by stressing the importance of accurately and objectively understanding North Korea’s situation, both within South Korea and globally. This understanding serves as the foundation for the government’s ongoing efforts to enlighten the international community about the realities in North Korea, aiming to support meaningful change.
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