Seoul, August 6: President Lee Jae-myung recently advised restraint regarding North Korea. Following this, South Korea’s Ministry of Unification clarified on Thursday that the government remains committed to a policy of dialogue and peaceful coexistence with North Korea. Despite challenging circumstances, the ministry emphasized its ongoing efforts to seek even the smallest opportunities for peace on the Korean Peninsula.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the ministry stated that it will continue to work on rebuilding trust and improving relations with North Korea, keeping the president’s message in mind. The statement noted, “If both sides do not take initiative, no progress in relations will be possible. Therefore, it is essential to keep the channels of communication open, even in challenging situations.”
During a government policy review meeting the previous day, President Lee advised caution regarding some new initiatives proposed by the ministry. The ministry suggested ceasing the use of terms like “main enemy” in government documents and official statements, opting instead for the official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). The president remarked that goodwill gestures could be politically misused, thus every decision should be made thoughtfully.
Unification Minister Chung Dong-young clarified on Thursday that the president did not reject the ministry’s policy. He noted that while the likelihood of an immediate positive response from North Korea is low, efforts to establish peace must continue.
However, differing opinions on this policy have emerged within the government. Foreign Minister Choi Hyun described some of the ministry’s plans as “somewhat idealistic,” stating that the proposal for a four-party dialogue involving North Korea, South Korea, the United States, and China is not yet part of the government’s shared policy and is difficult to implement under current conditions.
In response to these comments, Chung Dong-young asserted that sometimes idealistic thinking is necessary to change reality. Meanwhile, the Unification Ministry reiterated that its policy is based on practical efforts to advance the possibilities of peace and dialogue, not on mere imagination.
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