Seoul: The unification ministry on Wednesday proposed ceasing the use of the term "main enemy" when referring to North Korea. This move is part of a broader strategy aimed at fostering peaceful coexistence with Pyongyang and revitalizing the long-stalled inter-Korean relations.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the ministry presented its primary policy plan to President Lee Jae Myung, which focuses on mutual respect, reciprocal cooperation, peaceful conflict resolution, crisis management, and a long-term goal of achieving a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula and peace in Northeast Asia. As a step towards building mutual trust, the ministry suggested using North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, instead of the commonly used "North Korea."

Currently, South Korea refers to its northern neighbor as "North Korea," as the two Koreas are not recognized as separate states under the 1991 inter-Korean Basic Agreement. The new initiative seeks to rekindle a peace regime framework that was initially proposed under former President Moon Jae-in but had lost traction following a halt in inter-Korean exchanges.

In terms of security, the ministry aims to revive the September 19 inter-Korean military tension reduction pact. This agreement was signed in 2018 by former President Moon and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The ministry also plans to promote the peaceful use of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that separates the two Koreas.

The ministry's white paper published in May outlines three guiding principles for the initiative: respecting North Korea's system, ruling out unification by absorption, and avoiding hostile acts. To facilitate inter-Korean exchange, the ministry has mapped out plans to restart construction on the South Korean section of the Gyeongwon Line, connecting Seoul and Wonsan in the North. This project, which has been suspended for a decade, aims for completion by 2029.

Additionally, the ministry intends to revise the rules governing the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund. Currently underutilized at 2-3 percent, the proposed revisions would allow the fund to be used for peace economic zones, private unification projects, and North Korea studies.