Seoul: Unification Minister Chung Dong-young emphasized on Wednesday that the primary responsibility for resolving security issues on the Korean Peninsula should lie with South and North Korea, rather than external actors.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Chung made these remarks at the fourth meeting of the ministry's peace advisory council, held at the Office of Inter-Korean Dialogue. He stated, "The leading players on Korean Peninsula issues are South and North Korea. That is the constant," underscoring the importance of the two Koreas in determining their own fate.

Chung's comments seemed to express concern that South Korea might be marginalized as international focus shifts back to the Korean Peninsula, especially after a series of summits involving the United States, China, Russia, and North Korea. With the apparent de-escalation of the U.S.-Iran conflict under a new peace agreement, global attention could soon realign toward peninsular security matters.

Chung's core message was clear: the leadership in addressing these issues should rest with the Koreas. He reflected on his 2005 visit to Pyongyang, where he met with Kim Jong-il, the father of North Korea's current leader Kim Jong-un, during the fifth anniversary of the June 15 Inter-Korean Joint Declaration. This historic agreement was aimed at fostering mutual trust and peace.

During their meeting, Chung and Kim Jong-il concurred on the necessity for the Koreas to take the lead in establishing peace on the peninsula. "We should be bold and decide our own destiny," Chung quoted the late Kim as saying, highlighting a shared vision for inter-Korean leadership in peninsular affairs.