[Provided by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans]
[Provided by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans]

The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans rebuffed reports that Minister Kwon Oh-eul had no plans to clarify his use of the term "People's Republic" to refer to North Korea, saying it was "not true" that calling North Korea by that name reflects his personal conviction.

The ministry said Wednesday that China is currently asking North Korea for prior consent in connection with efforts to recover the remains of independence activist Ahn Jung-geun, and that Kwon used the term "People's Republic" once in that context to emphasize the need for cooperation among South Korea, North Korea, China and Japan.

North Korea has been pushing its "two-state theory" on the Korean Peninsula and insists on being referred to by its full official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, rather than terms such as "the North" or "North Korea."

The ministry had previously responded "not applicable" when asked by the office of People Power Party lawmaker Shin Dong-wook whether it planned to issue a correction, clarification, apology or expression of regret over the minister's remark.

The ministry said it would "continue to do its utmost" to recover Ahn's remains.


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