On Wednesday, Unification Minister Chung Dong-young emphasized that economic cooperation between North and South Korea would play a crucial role in achieving peace on the Korean Peninsula.
During a meeting at the Government Seoul Building with Michelle Winthrop, the Irish Ambassador to South Korea, Minister Chung noted that Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have created a model for peaceful coexistence through open exchanges and economic interactions.
He specifically highlighted North Korea’s current focus on economic and livelihood policies at the 9th Congress of the Workers’ Party, which outlines the country’s national agenda for the next five years. This has sparked optimism for the potential revival of economic cooperation between the two Koreas.
In response, Ambassador Winthrop commented that Ireland has previously provided humanitarian assistance to North Korea, addressing food security issues. If conditions improve, it hopes that South and North Korea can pursue similar initiatives. She added that economic integration between the two Koreas is vital in promoting peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula.
Winthrop also stressed the importance of addressing North Korean human rights issues to support peace in the region. She stated that rather than simply criticizing the human rights situation in North Korea, it should explore constructive ways to engage in improving these conditions.
The previous day, Minister Chung met with former British Prime Minister David Cameron, former U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss, and former U.S. Senator Richard Burr, seeking their support for the Lee Jae Myung administration’s policy of peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula.
According to the Ministry of Unification, the participants expressed concern over the growing instability in international relations due to the prolonged Russia-Ukraine conflict. They also shared hopes that the upcoming U.S.-China summit at the end of next month would serve as a catalyst for progress in peace efforts and inter-Korean relations.