On the occasion of August 15, the anniversary of Korea's liberation, the council decided to jointly publish with the north a statement condemning Japan's past sexual slavery and opposing south Korea's military cooperation with Japan.

The "Ministry of Unification" forced the council to delete content dealing with military cooperation with Japan from the draft statement at that time, but the council refused.

So, the ministry blocked the council's exchange and then took such a repressive step.

In this regard the permanent representative of the council said it would strongly counter this, saying it is something not desirable that the ministry obstructs the south-north exchange though it is obliged to support it.