1. The Korean-German Advisory Group on the Foreign Policy towards Reunification held its fifth meeting in Berlin on April 27. The meeting was co-chaired by Chairman of the ROK side Han Seung-joo (Chairman of the International Policy Studies Institute of Korea and former Foreign Minister) and Chairman of the German side Hartmut Koschyk (member of the German parliament and Chairman of the German-Korean Parliamentary Friendship Group).

2. In the latest meeting, the Advisory Group released an outcome report containing concrete and practical policy suggestions for the governments of the two countries, drawing upon the results of previous discussions on the German experience of reunification and the environment for the reunification of the Korean Peninsula.

o The two sides shared the view that the German experience of reunification offers an important lesson, but pointed out that instead of applying the German experience to the reunification of the Korean Peninsula without any consideration of the difference, it is important to utilize it creatively in a way that suits the conditions on the Korean Peninsula, taking note of the tenets of Germany’s reunification diplomacy.

o Concerning the ROK government’s foreign policy towards reunification, the Advisory Group proposed that the ROK government establish a long-term reunification policy based on national consensus and increase efforts to gain support from neighboring countries.

o The Advisory Group also pointed out that the ROK government needs to inform the public that the reunification of the Korean Peninsula will serve as an anchor to promote peace and prosperity in Northeast Asia, contributing to regional peace and prosperity, and that it is important for the ROK government to work to improve human rights in North Korea, fully integrate North Korean defectors into its society, and increase exchanges between the people of the ROK and North Korea.

o The Advisory Group agreed on the need to continue consultations between the Foreign Ministries of the ROK and Germany on what have been discussed and recommended by the Advisory Group, and offered to create a regular consultation mechanism on issues on the Korean Peninsula, including its security situation.

3. In its five meetings, the Korean-German Advisory Group on the Foreign Policy towards Reunification has held in-depth discussions on the implications of the reunification of the Korean Peninsula in terms of politics, military, security, society and culture. Together with the ROK-Visegrad Group seminar to share the transition experiences of the member countries of the Visegrad Group (Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia), the Korean-German Advisory Group, as a major cooperation network for the peaceful reunification of the Korean Peninsula, has made meaningful policy recommendations.

o The Foreign Ministries of the two countries will continue to closely consult on the situation on the Korean Peninsula and its reunification, building upon the momentum for cooperation created by the Korean-German Advisory Group.


* unofficial translation