Minister of Unification Ryu Woo Ik told reporters today, “We will suggest contact with North Korea again and wait for a response.” Ryu was speaking at a press conference that comes after North Korea in effect rejected South Korea’s suggestion of talks on future separated family reunions.
He went on “North Korea has to respond from a pure humanitarian perspective rather than strategic considerations or out of political interest.”
“The problem of the reunion of separated families is not something that can be solved by the people concerned,” he continued. “I hope North Korea will agree without consideration of the inter-Korean relationship.”
“It is too bad that they denied the proposal; as a person hoping for better inter-Korea relations, it is disappointing”, he added.
When asked on ‘How to get North Korea to the table’, Ryu replied, “Trust between North and South Korea cannot be accumulated through a surprise show, only by expressing the will to talk with North Korea. I am not considering any shock measures towards the North.”
