Unification Minister Kim Yung Ho meets with Acting VOA Director Yolanda Lopez

On August 4, Unification Minister Kim Yung Ho met with Acting VOA Director Yolanda Lopez, sharing the Yoon Suk Yeol Administration's policy toward North Korea and discussing measures in which the Unification Ministry and the VOA could cooperate.

Minister Kim Yung Ho discussed the ROKG's efforts to establish Unification policies and inter-Korean relations based on liberal democratic order.

The release of the 2023 Report on North Korean Human Rights was highlighted, noting that the ROKG not only is concerned with North Korea's denuclearization but also with the humanitarian situation, including human rights issues.

Minister Kim also highlighted the issue of abductees, detainees, and prisoners of war, and explained that the Government does not seek a declaration of the end of war unless these issues are fundamentally addressed.

VOA expressed interest in the Minister's plans to improve North Korean human rights, as well as the direction of change in the Unification Ministry since he assumed office.

Minister Kim stressed that cooperation with media, such as VOA as well as NGOs, is important to bring change to North Korea, including denuclearization and improvement of human rights in North Korea, and requested their continued interest and support.