Seoul: Unification Minister Chung Dong-young has proposed eliminating the term "main enemy" when referring to North Korea, advocating instead for the use of its official name as a gesture towards peaceful coexistence. The suggestion was made during a briefing at Cheong Wa Dae, where Chung outlined his ministry's key policy agenda for the latter half of the year.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Chung urged the South Korean government to refer to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, or Joson in Korean. He believes this change in language could foster mutual trust between the two Koreas. Currently, South Korea uses "North Korea" and does not recognize it as a separate state under the 1991 Inter-Korean Basic Agreement.
Chung's proposal is a response to the precedent set by former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who labeled North Korea as the "main enemy." He suggested the term "a threat" should be used instead. The matter was discussed at the National Security Council meetings, where the defense ministry opposed the idea. The ministry is expected to maintain the "enemy" label in its upcoming defense paper.
The unification ministry's broader policy agenda includes principles for a "peaceful coexistence" initiative, focusing on building mutual respect, peaceful conflict resolution, and a long-term goal of a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula. This approach revives a framework from former President Moon Jae-in's administration, which lost traction amid stalled inter-Korean exchanges.
Chung also highlighted the desire to revive the 2018 inter-Korean military tension reduction pact and utilize the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) for peaceful purposes. On nuclear issues, he emphasized seeking "realistic" solutions, starting with halting North Korea's nuclear programs.
He criticized the outdated policy of complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization (CVID), advocating for a phased approach beginning with a "freeze-first" step. Chung expressed hope for an inter-Korean summit within President Lee's term and hinted at potential breakthroughs in his upcoming Liberation Day speech.
To facilitate inter-Korean exchanges, the ministry plans to restart construction on the Gyeongwon railway line, connecting Seoul and Wonsan, aiming for completion by 2029. Additionally, they plan to revise rules governing the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund to support peace economic zones and other projects.