Seoul: A global forum, co-hosted by a presidential advisory body and Yonhap News Agency, explored ways on Tuesday to muster international solidarity for South Korea's vision of achieving unification based on liberal democracy, with participation from government officials and experts. The event, titled the Global Dialogue on Korean Peninsula Unification, took place over two days at JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul, concluding with discussions on unification issues amidst evolving global conditions. According to Yonhap News Agency, the forum was co-hosted by the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council (PUAC) and Yonhap, focusing on the challenges and opportunities in the pursuit of Korean unification against the backdrop of former U.S. President Donald Trump's re-election and the involvement of North Korean troops in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The dialogue sought to address the global environment's impact on unification efforts and explored strategies to strengthen international collaboration amid ongoing g lobal challenges, such as the Russia-Ukraine war and the prolonged Israel-Hamas conflict. The Peaceful Unification Advisory Council, which advises the president on unification issues for policymaking, played a crucial role in organizing the event. The forum included a keynote speech by National Security Adviser Shin Won-sik and three discussion sessions featuring scholars like Bruce Bennett from the global policy think tank RAND. These sessions focused on the challenges of achieving unification amidst shifting international security dynamics and the unification vision declared by President Yoon Suk Yeol. Kim Kwan-yong, the PUAC's executive vice-chairperson, highlighted the urgency of international cooperation in his remarks, stating, "Unification remains inside a long, dark tunnel in the era of a global geopolitical upheaval. Cooperation with the international community is more urgently needed than ever under the current condition in which North Korea remains locked up from inside." In his welcome speech, Yonhap News Agency President and CEO Hwang Dae-il emphasized the need for a new roadmap for unification amidst changing public perceptions, pledging Yonhap's continued efforts as a core news agency dedicated to the country's freedom, peace, and prosperity. Presentations and discussions on the East Asia security environment following the U.S. presidential election and shifts in Korean Peninsula policies took place behind closed doors on the first day of the forum. All sessions on the second day were livestreamed on the council's website, allowing for broader engagement with the topics discussed.