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Unification Minister

The South Korean Unification Minister talked about plans to treat the possible resumption of tourism at Mt. Keumgang in North Korea as a “separate issue” from current sanctions against the North.

While appearing on July 26 on the KBS program “Sunday Diagnosis,” Minister Hong Yong-pyo was asked whether the resumption of tourism would be discussed as a separate issue from the so-called May 24 Measures that have restricted interactions with North Korea since the 2010 sinking of the ROKS Cheonan.

“It’s a separate issue,” Hong affirmed. “There are some areas that are connected, but it’s separate.”

Hong went on to say that “tourists’ physical safety is the most important issue” with the resumption of tourism at Mt. Keumgang.

“Institutional or practical measures need to be taken so that [South Korean] citizens can go in safety and visit with the sense that they are truly safe,” he added, expressing hopes that South and North could “meet and find ways of reopening [tourism] through dialogue.”

“While the North has talked about physical security to Hyundai Asan chairperson Hyun Jung-eun, the government’s position is that physical security is a matter of the government protecting its citizens, and that the North Korean government must confirm this unambiguously and directly with the South Korean side,” he continued.

The implication of Hong’s statements is that a resumption of tourism at Mt. Keumgang could be pursued separately from the May 24 Measures if both governments can meet and reach an agreement on visitor safety.

Hong also commented on the recent dispute over a wage hike at Kaesong Industrial Complex.

“This is not about a couple of dollars right now,” he said, adding that North and South “need to reach an agreement to create the kind of wage system that is satisfactory for the businesses.”

Hong went on to say he felt the complex “should be subject to the North Korean legal system, since it is located in North Korea.”

“The South Korean government‘s position is that South and North agreed to operate the Kaesong Industrial Complex together from its first establishment, and that the agreement between South and North has validity equivalent to North Korean law,” he added.

Hong was dismissive of the idea of appointing Kim Dae-jung Peace Center director, and widow of former President Kim Dae-jung, Lee Hee-ho as a special envoy during her planned visit to North Korea early next month.

“It seems a bit much to tie an individual’s personal visit to ‘special envoy’ status,” he said.

By Park Byong-su, senior staff writer

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