South Korea will post two government officials in Germany and Russia next month as part of its diplomatic efforts to prepare for eventual reunification with North Korea, an official said Sunday.

The new posts were created in April under the initiative of Unification Minister Yu Woo-ik, who has campaigned to win the interest and support of key partner nations for the reunification of the two Koreas.

Since taking office last September, Yu has visited the United States, China and Germany as part of that drive.

Four officials from the ministry have applied for the new posts, and will undergo a final interview with a judging committee Monday, the ministry official said on customary condition of anonymity.

The two successful candidates are expected to take up their posts at the end of August, the official said.

The ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs, currently posts three officials in Washington, Tokyo and Beijing to promote inter-Korean reunification.

The Koreas technically remain at war with each other as the 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty.

Tensions peaked on the Korean peninsula after the North’s two deadly attacks on the South in 2010, which killed a total of 50 South Koreans, mostly soldiers. 

(Yonhap News)