Reference News Network, July 21 report. According to Yonhap News Agency on July 21, the South Korean Ministry of Unification said on July 21 that South Korea is considering various measures to ease tensions and improve relations with North Korea. Previously, it was reported that South Korea is considering allowing individuals to travel to North Korea.
The South Korean Ministry of Unification stated in a press release: "The government is formulating and implementing policies toward North Korea with the goal of easing tensions on the Korean Peninsula and improving inter-Korean relations, and is currently considering various measures in this process."
Previously, the Donga Ilbo reported that the Lee Jae-myung administration is considering resuming individual travel to North Korea as a bargaining chip for restarting dialogue with North Korea.
The newspaper cited a senior official, reporting that Lee Jae-myung mentioned this idea during a national security meeting on July 10, and the government subsequently began research on issues such as feasibility, stating that it is a "long-term" study.
The report said that travel to North Korea was a symbol of inter-Korean reconciliation. In 2008, a South Korean female tourist was shot dead by North Korean soldiers while visiting the Mount Kumgang resort on the east coast of North Korea. Pyongyang claimed she had entered a military restricted area. Since then, travel to North Korea has been suspended.
Kim Byung-sang, a spokesperson for the South Korean Ministry of Unification, said at a press conference on July 21 that the fees for individual travel to North Korea are charged separately and do not violate international sanctions against North Korea. (Translated by Liu Zongya)
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