Seoul: The unification ministry announced on Thursday its commitment to pursuing peaceful coexistence with North Korea, despite the challenging geopolitical climate. This statement comes in the wake of President Lee Jae Myung's cautious remarks regarding the ministry's approach during a recent policy briefing.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the ministry emphasized the importance of continued efforts to foster peace, stating, "Nothing will happen if we stay put," and highlighting the need for ongoing attempts to create opportunities for peace, even in difficult circumstances. President Lee had previously suggested removing the "main enemy" label from North Korea and referring to it by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, as part of a trust-building initiative.
The proposal to drop the "main enemy" label is part of a broader strategy to build trust with North Korea. Currently, South Korea uses "North Korea" instead of its official name, as both Koreas are not recognized as separate states under the 1991 Inter-Korean Basic Agreement. Unification Minister Chung Dong-young defended the initiative, stating that President Lee supports the effort despite the challenges.
President Lee, during the policy briefing, acknowledged the risk of policies being exploited for political gain, urging the ministry to proceed with caution. Conversely, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun expressed skepticism about some of Chung's proposals, labeling a proposed four-way dialogue among the two Koreas, the United States, and China as "idealistic" and not yet coordinated within the government.
In response to Cho's skepticism, Chung argued that idealism is necessary for changing reality and emphasized the importance of inter-departmental cooperation. The unification ministry supported Chung's stance, describing its approach as "the most realistic and practical" at present.
The foreign ministry, during a regular briefing, reiterated the government's consistent North Korea policy, emphasizing inter-departmental coordination through the National Security Council. A senior foreign ministry official highlighted that Pyongyang's lack of response to dialogue efforts underscores the difficulties of the current situation, noting Cho's comments about the unification ministry's idealism stem from this context.
The official also noted that any multiparty security dialogue aimed at establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula would require additional consultations and adjustments. Despite the challenges, the government remains committed to seeking breakthroughs in inter-Korean relations.