Seoul's unification minister calls for inter-Korean cooperation through small steps
- 4 years ago
이인영 "되돌릴 수 없는 평화, CVIP 열어야"...미국은 '냉전동맹' 발언 반박
"Small steps are better than no steps at all."
That's what South Korea's unification minister is saying regarding inter-Korean cooperation as communication between the two remains minimal to non-existent.
Kim Hyo-sun reports.
Seoul's unification minister Lee In-young is once again calling for inter-Korean cooperation through "small steps."
He explained Monday that the two Koreas can facilitate peace through areas that are linked to the public's lives and well-being such as public health and disease prevention.
Stressing that small steps are better than no steps at all,... Lee noted the importance of incremental exchanges.
"Under the leadership of the two Koreas, we shall usher in an era of complete, verifiable and irreversible peace by cooperating with the international community."
This,... he said will ultimately help establish a peace process on the Korean Peninsula and resume stalled talks between Pyeongyang and Washington.
However, it's left to be seen whether the North will respond to the "small steps" proposed by Lee,... as the regime has bluntly criticized Seoul for not abiding by the inter-Korean agreement.
Lee's remarks last week that he believed Seoul and Washington could one day replace their 'military, Cold War alliance' with a 'peace alliance,'... has ignited controversy.
The U.S. State Department responded directly,... stressing the alliance goes far beyond their security ties to include cooperation on areas of the economy and human rights.
Moon Chung-in, special security advisor to President Moon Jae-in raised questions against the comments made by Washington.
"I cannot understand why the State Department has made such a critical comment. It's unfortunate as it looks like the U.S. has a biased view of Minister Lee In-young."
Seoul's unification ministry explained later through a formal response that it's an undeniable fact that the alliance began as a military alliance,... but developed into a value-shaped alliance based on democracy and pursuit of a market economy.
Kim Hyo-sun, Arirang News.
"Small steps are better than no steps at all."
That's what South Korea's unification minister is saying regarding inter-Korean cooperation as communication between the two remains minimal to non-existent.
Kim Hyo-sun reports.
Seoul's unification minister Lee In-young is once again calling for inter-Korean cooperation through "small steps."
He explained Monday that the two Koreas can facilitate peace through areas that are linked to the public's lives and well-being such as public health and disease prevention.
Stressing that small steps are better than no steps at all,... Lee noted the importance of incremental exchanges.
"Under the leadership of the two Koreas, we shall usher in an era of complete, verifiable and irreversible peace by cooperating with the international community."
This,... he said will ultimately help establish a peace process on the Korean Peninsula and resume stalled talks between Pyeongyang and Washington.
However, it's left to be seen whether the North will respond to the "small steps" proposed by Lee,... as the regime has bluntly criticized Seoul for not abiding by the inter-Korean agreement.
Lee's remarks last week that he believed Seoul and Washington could one day replace their 'military, Cold War alliance' with a 'peace alliance,'... has ignited controversy.
The U.S. State Department responded directly,... stressing the alliance goes far beyond their security ties to include cooperation on areas of the economy and human rights.
Moon Chung-in, special security advisor to President Moon Jae-in raised questions against the comments made by Washington.
"I cannot understand why the State Department has made such a critical comment. It's unfortunate as it looks like the U.S. has a biased view of Minister Lee In-young."
Seoul's unification ministry explained later through a formal response that it's an undeniable fact that the alliance began as a military alliance,... but developed into a value-shaped alliance based on democracy and pursuit of a market economy.
Kim Hyo-sun, Arirang News.