hankyoreh

Blue House National Security Office Director Chung Eui-yong talks to reporters after arriving at Incheon International Airport from Washington, DC, on Jan. 10. (Yonhap News)

“If South and North Korea wish to develop inter-Korean relations and establish peace on the Korean Peninsula, they’ll need to make an effort to respect each other and abide by the necessary rules,” South Korea’s Ministry of Unification (MOU) said.

Lee Sang-min, the MOU’s spokesperson, made this remark during the daily press briefing on Jan. 13. When asked about the MOU’s position in regard to a recently released statement by Kim Kye-gwan, advisor of North Korea’s Foreign Ministry, Lee said he had “no other comments” to make.

In a Jan. 11 statement, Kim mocked South Korea for announcing its transmission of a message from US President Donald Trump, remarking that the South Korean authorities “seem not to know that there is a special liaison channel between the top leaders of the DPRK [North Korea] and the US.” Kim added that the South Koreans had been “too busy” and “presumptuous” and advised them to “behave prudently.”

While meeting with reporters at Incheon Airport, following his return from the US on Jan. 10, Blue House National Security Office Director Chung Eui-yong said, “The day that I met President Trump [Jan. 8] happened to be Chairman Kim [Jong-un’s] birthday. Remembering that, President Trump wished Chairman Kim a happy birthday and said he hoped President Moon [Jae-in] would pass that message along to him. I’m told that the message in question was conveyed to the North Koreans yesterday through appropriate means.”

When asked about how Trump’s personal letter (the one mentioned in Kim Kye-gwan’s statement) had been transmitted and about whether South Korea and the US had shared information in advance, Lee’s only response was that “the Unification Ministry has nothing to confirm.”

By Lee Je-hun, senior staff writer

Please direct comments or questions to [english@hani.co.kr]