Hong Kong. July 2. INTERFAX - South Korean President Yun Seok-yel on Sunday called on the Unification Ministry to stop acting in the interests of the DPRK.
"Until recently, the ministry worked as if it was a department to support North Korea. It shouldn't be like this anymore. It's time for the Unification Ministry to change," Yonhap quoted the president as saying in a speech to employees of the department.
He explained that from now on, the ministry's activities should benefit the residents of both South Korea and the DPRK.
Earlier, Kim Yong Ho, a professor of political science and diplomacy, was appointed to the post of Minister of Unification of Korea, who is known for his tough stance against Pyongyang and calls to put pressure on the DPRK on the issue of human rights. Critics of the new minister expressed the opinion that under his leadership the role of this department would weaken.
The office of the South Korean president noted that the Ministry of Unification Affairs will analyze the trends observed recently in the DPRK's policy and respond to them properly, as well as address the issue of human rights in North Korea.
Kim Yong Ho, in turn, stated that the South Korean government needs to selectively consider the issue of compliance with existing inter-Korean agreements, depending on the behavior of the DPRK. So, in his opinion, the government may need to revise the inter-Korean military agreement signed on September 19, 2018, if the North continues to violate it and arrange provocations.
