Following last month’s summit between the leaders of South and North Korea, local officials are gearing up for inter-Korean exchanges. As Mike Laidman now reports, the plans include inviting North Korean officials and performers to the upcoming Jeju Forum.

Jeju Province is gearing up for inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation after the (판문점) Panmunjom Declaration was made following the Inter-Korean summit on April 27.

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Inter-Korean exchange committee meeting (May 3)

A deliberation committee was formed in 2016 based on a provincial ordinance for inter-Korean exchange and cooperation made at the time, and its first meeting was held recently.

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Province to fully support inter-Korean cooperation

The island has promised financial and administrative support to promoting inter-Korean exchange and cooperation, along with 5 billion won from the cooperation fund that has been raised since 2008.

Recording
Jeon Seong-tae / Acting governor
The province should be ready to implement the planned inter-Korean cooperation projects as bilateral relations improve.
<씽크:전성태/제주도지사 권한대행(지난 3일)>
"앞으로 남북교류 여건이 조성되면 그동안 제안했던 사업들이 차근차근 진행될 수 있도록 준비 점검이 필요한 시기가 아닌가 생각합니다."

The Jeju Inter-Korean Cooperation Headquarters will take care of cooperation projects in the private sector. The organization has been working to promote and organize inter-Korean cooperation projects since 1999.

Recording
Gang Yeong-seok / Jeju Inter-Korean Cooperation Headquarters
I expect you, headquarter members, to contribute to opening the road from Hallasan Mountain to Baekdusan Mountain.
<씽크:강영석/남북협력도민운동본부 이사장(지난 3일)>
"한라에서 백두까지 가는 길을 위원님들이 열어주시고 소정의 성과를 거두기를 기대합니다. "

The 5+1 inter-Korean exchange projects suggested by the province in 2014 are key to the successful cooperation.

Economic exchanges including mandarin shipments from Jeju to North Korea, a cruise route linking Jeju and a North Korean harbor, and other tour programs have been suspended since the UN sanctions were passed.

The province must wait for the results of the North Korea-US summit scheduled for later this month before they move ahead as this will affect the UN’s decision.

Additionally, the island’s projects need to be cleared by Seoul. It’s therefore unlikely that Jeju’s cooperative programs will happen anytime soon.

However, the Ministry of Unification is allowing the island to begin one-time sociocultural exchanges with the North.

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Local authorities to invite N. Korean officials, art troupe to Jeju Forum

Jeju is planning to invite high-level North Korean officials and art troupes to the Jeju Forum, scheduled for the end of June.

[Reporter] Mike Laidman
[Camera] Kim Seung-cheol

The North Korea-US summit and working group meetings between the North and Jeju have the potential to be important turning points in inter-Korean cooperation.

Mike Laidman, KCTV