Current Status of North-South Relations

1. Overview

    1.1 President Park mentioned in her New Year’s annual press conference (Jan. 6) that building the foundation for unification of the Korean Peninsula is a core task of the country this year, proposing resumptions such as more humanitarian support, exchanges, and family reunions.
    1.2 Red Cross Working-level Talks (Feb. 5), High-Level Talks (Feb. 12-14), and the Reunion of the separated families (Feb. 20-25) were held under the trend of peaceful collaborations between North and South Korea
    1.3 After March, however, North Korea rejected the proposal from Red Cross Working-level Talks (March 6) and fired short-range ballistic missiles; North-South relations grew intense

2. The High-Level Talks and Reunion of the Separated Families

    2.1 It has been 7 years since the last high-level meeting was held in 2007; the meeting aimed to discuss on important issues of the two Koreas
        - Through two rounds of meeting, 3 matters were agreed:
        ▷ To hold the unification for the separated families
        ▷ To cease slander and scheming
        ▷ To continue discussion on pending issues and to explore ways to improve ties; to hold the high-level meeting again on available dates for both parties

    2.2 It has been 3 years and 4 months since the last family reunion
        - The occasion was agreed through the Red Cross Working Level Talks on Feb. 2 to take place from Feb. 20 to Feb. 25.
        - 82 people from the South, 88 people from the North and total 535 family members attended the meeting

Recent situations in North Korea

1. Domestic Actions

    1.1 The first Supreme People’s Assembly under the rule of Kim Jung-un was held on April 9. Through reorganizing high-level positions, the country’s monolithic leadership system was strengthened.
        - Kim Jung-un reinstalled as the First Chairman of the National Defense Commission
        - High level officials remain in positions: Kim Yong-nam retain permanent chairman, Park Bong-joo retain prime minister

    1.2 Remain its political system by strengthening ideological education and idolization the family of Kim Jung-un


2. Actions toward South Korea

    2.1 Condemnation on President’s participation in Nuclear Security Summit

    2.2 Create tensions by various military provocations
        - Continuous missile threats (March 31)
        - Sent mini drones to Paju (March 24), Baengnyeong-do (March31), Samcheok (April 6)

3. Actions toward foreign countries

    3.1 Declared that North Korea will not give up nuclear weapons and has begun new forms of nuclear tests
        - One year after the country adopted the policy line of “Simultaneous Development of Economy and Nuclear Force”, they declared again that they will not give up nuclear weapons

    3.2 Accusing the U.S. of its hostile policy towards North Korea

    3.3 Pursuing break free from international isolation and practical interests through cooperation with China, Japan, Syria, Mongolia…etc.