A Ministry of Unification official said Wednesday that the government's position on preemptively and gradually restoring the September 19 inter-Korean military agreement to ease military tensions and rebuild trust between the two Koreas remains unchanged.
"The government's position remains unchanged that it will preemptively and gradually restore the September 19 inter-Korean military agreement to ease military tensions and restore trust between the two Koreas," the official told reporters at the Government Complex Seoul on Wednesday.
"Specific restoration measures are still under consultation with related ministries," the official added.
President Lee Jae-myung formally announced his policy to preemptively restore the September 19 inter-Korean military agreement in his Liberation Day address last year. As part of this effort, the government decided to begin with restoring the no-fly zone. However, a report a day earlier said that inter-ministerial review and consultations with the United Nations Command for this purpose had been completely suspended.
"Discussions among related ministries are still ongoing," the official said. "It is reported that consultations with the UN Command have been suspended, but I am not aware of the details." The Ministry of Unification understands that consultations with the U.S. military have been delayed due to the war in the Middle East, according to sources.
Asked whether the effectiveness of restoring the agreement may have diminished given that North Korea has clarified its "two hostile states" stance, the official emphasized, "Our position is that it is necessary to ease tensions and restore trust between the two Koreas."
