Committee members suggested the need to propose an implementation plan in detail to realize the Dresden Plan of President Park Geun-hye (plan regarding the Korean peninsula’s unification) and secure overall support from home and abroad, along with makingfurther suggestions continuouslytowardPyeongyang.

The 5th Planning & Legislation Standing Committee Meeting (chief: Jeong Jong-seop) was held on May 13at the secretariat conference room to discuss how to secure national empathy with the Dresden Plan and the propelling power to realize it, with the results to be reported to the President as a second-quarter report of NUAC.

Jeon Kyeong-man (former director of the Unification Education Institute, currently Chair-Researcher of the Korea Research Institute of Strategy) emphasized the necessity of follow-up measures to support the executive ability with regard to the Dresden Plan.

"Based on the Dresden Plan, guidelines for the Inter-Korean Policy for the era ofpeaceful unification should be given by establishing the unification philosophy and belief of the political leaders. In this regard, more efforts should be made to build the economic community of the South and North by combining trust building between the two Koreas, exchange, and cooperation, improving people's livelihood, and preparing for unification and conveniences," he stressed.

He noted that the Dresden Plan includes exchange of civilians between South and North Korea and humanitarian aid. “Our approach to public diplomacy should be reinforced in parallel with government diplomacy for cooperation on national unification. Non-Government Organizations (NGO) are also required to make theirown international networks to support the Dresden Plan," he added.

He also suggestedthe adjustment of the elements serving as difficulties, obstacles, or antagonism boldly and realistically to secure implementing ability with regard to the plan. Exchange and cooperation to improve people's livelihood should beturned into an opportunity to promote the human rights of North Korean residents, he said.

• During the group discussion, the committee members defined the Inter-Korean Policy of Park Geun-hye government as "opening a window of opportunity, keeping a principle, and changing North Korea through ceaseless dialogue." They agreed that the implementing plan should be made within the limit of maintaining the identity of inter-Korean policy of Park's government. Above all, the hasty abolishment of the May 24 Sanction should be avoided, unless North Korea shows meaningful change of its provocative and hostile attitude against South Korea.

"Preparing the second-quarter report is one of the most important tasks of NUAC. Since the report plays a very important role in establishing the national unification policy and people's awareness of national unification, sincere and faithful discussion and suggestion should be made," said Park Chan-bong, Secretary General of NUAC.

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  Park Chan-bong, Secretary General of NUAC

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  Jeong Jong-seop, Chief of the Committee

According to Jeong Jong-seop, chief of the committee, under the current situation of national security being challenged along with the sorrow over the Sewol ferry tragedy, the Planning & Legislation Standing Committee of NUAC is required to keep its firm balance. “Since the role of NUAC will be broadened further, all of us should be armed with a strong sense of responsibility,” he said.

NUAC plans to select honorary ambassadors for national unification among the youth and college students starting June and organize a panel discussion on national unification for college students.

Meanwhile, Lee Seong-jun, member of the Press Arbitration Commission, and Prof. Jeon Jae-seong of Seoul National University joined the Committee as of this meeting.