Inter-Korean Liaison Office facts for kids

The Inter-Korean Liaison Office (Hangul: 남북공동연락사무소; Hanja: 南北共同連絡事務所; RR: Nambuk gongdong yeollak samuso) was a special office that helped North Korea and South Korea talk to each other. It was located in North Korea's Kaesong Industrial Region.

This building worked like a de facto embassy, which means it was a place where officials from both countries could meet and communicate directly, even though it wasn't a full embassy. It was a key place for the two nations to discuss important matters and try to improve their relationship.

What Was the Liaison Office?

The Inter-Korean Liaison Office was a joint project between North and South Korea. It was set up to make it easier for the two countries to communicate. Before this office, they often had to use fax machines or other indirect ways to talk. The office provided a direct and regular way for officials to meet face-to-face.

Why Was It Important?

The office was very important because North and South Korea have been divided for a long time. They don't have normal diplomatic relations like most countries do. The Liaison Office was a symbol of hope for peace and cooperation. It allowed them to discuss things like joint projects, family reunions, and ways to reduce tensions.

Who Led the Office?

The office had leaders from both sides. North Korea's representative was Jon Jong-su, who was a vice chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland. South Korea's representative was Chun Hae-sung, a vice minister from the Ministry of Unification. These leaders worked together to manage the office and its activities.

The Office Building

The Inter-Korean Liaison Office was located in a four-story building. It was part of the Kaesong Industrial Region, which is a special economic zone near the border. This region was created for joint economic projects between North and South Korea.

The Office's End

Sadly, the office building was destroyed by North Korea on June 16, 2020. It had been empty since January of that year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The destruction of the office was a setback for efforts to improve relations between the two Koreas.