The Peaceful Unification Advisory Council

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Central Committee’s Evaluation of Inter-Korean Relations in 2021 and Prospects for 2022

  • Consultation & Advice Division
  • 12-22-2021

Central Committee’s Evaluation of Inter-Korean Relations in 2021 and Prospects for 2022


The PUAC (Executive Vice-Chair Lee Seok Hyun, Secretary-General Kim Chang Soo) held the 2021 Central Committee meeting at the Swiss Grand Hotel in Seoul at 14:00 on December 21st. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, the meeting was held online and offline in parallel with a minimum number of on-site attendees.


회의전경


‘The discussion about 2022 sub-committee operations’ ensued, with each sub-committee evaluating inter-Korean relations in 2021 and forecasting prospects in 2022. Based on their respective evaluation and forecast, the sub-committees came up with mandates for the advancement of inter-Korean relations and key tasks they will promote in 2022.



Lee Kwan Se, chair of the Planning and Coordination Sub-Committee, served as the moderator of the session. He said that the word used most frequently by the Central Committee members to evaluate inter-Korean relations in 2021 was ‘searching in the dark*’ and that the dominant forecast for inter-Korean relations in 2022 was ‘overcast and then sunny,’ adding his personal hope for improvement in the relations.



The Central Committee members pointed out the end-of-war declaration and a peace agreement based on mutual trust; consistence in the government’s North Korea policy and close cooperation with the international community as things necessary to further advance the peace process on the Korean Peninsula in 2022.



Based on a sub-committee member survey, each sub-committee worked out and presented its priority tasks for 2022, including securing public consensus for the realization of sustainable peace on the Korean Peninsula, making efforts to resolve South-South conflicts, promoting exchanges in non-political fields such as society, culture, health, and the environment, and inducing international community support and cooperation through peace public diplomacy.



In his opening remarks, Executive Vice-Chair Lee Seok Hyun said, "It would be good for the ROK and the United States to postpone the ROK/U.S. joint military exercise (Alliance One) scheduled for March in 2022 to create an atmosphere of peace for the declaration of an end to the Korean War," stressing, “Earlier this month, the United Nations General Assembly, including the United States, adopted an Olympic Truce that will remain in force for the duration of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics in February and March of next year. Next March is the period when the Beijing Winter Olympics will continue. The joint exercise during this period is not in line with the peace spirit of the UN resolution. The ROK and the U.S. had better conduct joint quarantine exercises instead during that time for humanity suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic. I look forward to the United States' bold decision for denuclearization and peace."


He also announced that “The PUAC has launched ‘the Special Committee for the Promotion of the End-of-War Declaration,’ ‘the Special Committee for Support for Bidding for the Inter-Korean Olympic Games,’ and ‘the Special Committee for the Promotion of Peace Public Diplomacy’ in the PUAC.’ He said he expects these committees to work together with the Central Committee to promote peace on the Korean Peninsula.



In his greetings, Secretary-General Kim Chang Soo expressed gratitude for the successful plenary meeting attended by 20,000 council members offline and online on the 17th, adding that he would do his best to support the Central Committee members’ effective policy proposals.



During the unification speech session, the Central Committee members, including those from overseas who were connected via video, said that it is not easy to find a clue to resolving inter-Korean relations, but it is time for the PUAC to join forces to advance the peace process on the Korean Peninsula.



Most notably, some committee members emphasized the importance of the PUAC’s roles as follows: (1) Lim Hye Jeong (International Cooperation Sub-Committee) stressed public diplomacy for peace on the Korean Peninsula, (2) Yoo Wan Young (Social & Cultural Sub-Committee) demanded improvement in relations through inter-Korean sports exchanges, (3) Eom Joo Hyun (Health and Environment Sub-Committee) called for cooperation in healthcare including the support of medical systems, and (4) Jeong Yong Min (National Communication Sub-Committee) suggested spreading a consensus for peace among youth.



Minister of Unification Lee In Young, who explained the government's policy, emphasized that the situation on the Korean Peninsula is at a critical crossroads between re-entering the cycle of peace or entering a path of long-term stalemate and escalation of tension and that we must create an environment conducive to re-entry into the cycle of peace.



Meanwhile, the Central Committee held a ceremony to award letters of appointment to administrative secretaries So Jae Seon and Koh Young Hoon who will support the performance the chair of the Standing Committee (Executive Vice-Chair).



The gathering ended with a sand art performance under the theme of 'Sustainable Peace on the Korean Peninsula' and a performance of the North Korean musical instrument called jangsaenap uniting the longing for peace of the Central Committee members.




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