South waiting on North to remember March 1

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South waiting on North to remember March 1

South Korea is awaiting a response from North Korea on its recent proposal to jointly mark this year’s anniversary of the March 1 Independence Movement against Japan’s colonial rule, a Unification Ministry official said Tuesday.

“We have delivered our own proposals to North Korea and are currently waiting for its response,” the official told reporters on condition of anonymity, declining to provide details.

The leaders of the two Koreas agreed in a September summit to hold joint events to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the March 1, 1919, Independence Movement this year.

South and North Korea have separately celebrated the historic day that prompted months of massive protests against imperial Japan, which ruled the Korean Peninsula from 1910-45.

Records show Japan’s brutal crackdowns left around 7,500 dead and led to 50,000 arrests.

Meanwhile, with regard to Seoul’s plan to deliver antiviral medication in humanitarian aid to North Korea, the official said the government is working hard to have it shipped as soon as possible by completing necessary preparations.

In December, the government announced its plan to send Tamiflu to North Korea, initially scheduled for Jan. 11, but it has been repeatedly put off for unclear reasons.

The ministry didn’t say exactly what is holding up the delivery, but news reports have said Seoul and Washington are discussing possible violations of sanctions in using trucks to transport the drugs.

Earlier, a Foreign Ministry official departed for the United States apparently for consultations over the delivery of the medication and other cross-border issues. The Unification Ministry official declined to comment on the trip. Yonhap
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