Unification minister heads to Kaesong

Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul will visit the inter-Korean liaison office in North Korea’s border city of Kaesong this week, his first trip to the North since taking office last month, a ministry official said Tuesday.

Kim plans to cross the border via the western land route on Wednesday morning to meet with South Korean officials and return home in the afternoon.

“This visit is aimed at encouraging our staff working at the liaison office as it has been playing an important role in inter-Korean relations,” the official said on the condition of anonymity, adding that Kim does not have plans to consult with North Koreans during his visit. The ministry informed the North last month of Kim’s travel plans, and recently received a response, according to the official.

The two Koreas launched the liaison office in September, and agreed to hold a meeting of its coheads every week to discuss cross-border issues.

The weekly meeting, however, has not been held for 10 consecutive weeks as of Friday.

Yonhap