Two Koreas open inter-Korean liaison office
South Korean Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon said the inter-Korean joint liaison office is a communication channel between the two countries in a new era of peace.
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| Panoramic view of the Kaesong Industrial Complex between the two Koreas. Source: AFP/VNA |
The South Korean Unification Ministry said the opening ceremony of the joint liaison office between the two Koreas took place in the North Korean border town of Kaesong with about 50 people from each side attending.
Speaking at the event, South Korean Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon said the inter-Korean joint liaison office is a communication channel between the two countries in a new era of peace.
From now on, the two sides can consult directly 24 hours a day, 365 days a year on issues related to bilateral relations, peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula.
The office will be operational immediately after the opening ceremony. South Korea will have 20 officials working at the office, while North Korea will have 15 to 20 officials.
Also according to the Unification Ministry, Vice Unification Minister Chun Hae-sung will co-chair the inter-Korean liaison office with Jon Chong-su, vice chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea. The two officials will meet weekly.
In addition to South Korean Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon, the ceremony was attended by a number of officials from the National Assembly and academia. Among the North Korean officials attending the opening event was Ri Son-kwon, who has been in charge of high-level inter-Korean talks for months.
Also present were several businessmen who ran companies in the now-shuttered Kaesong industrial complex. The South Korean government said their attendance had nothing to do with the government's efforts to reopen the complex.
The opening of the Inter-Korean Liaison Office is one of the agreements of the Panmunjom Declaration agreed upon by South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at the recent inter-Korean summit./.