Jeong Dong-young, the Minister of Unification, announced on July 23 that the current administration has effectively abandoned the previous government's 'denuclearization first' policy in favor of a 'peace first' approach.
During a visit to the press room at the Government Seoul Building to mark his one-year anniversary in office, Jeong outlined the achievements of the past year.
He stated, "While we have not abandoned the ultimate goal of denuclearization, we have discarded the denuclearization first approach," emphasizing that it has been replaced with a strategy focused on prioritizing peace.
Jeong explained that the terminology has shifted from denuclearization of North Korea to the goal of achieving a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula, detailing a strategy that prioritizes peace and a halt to North Korea's nuclear activities.
He noted, "Isn't it true that both the U.S. and China have effectively abandoned the denuclearization first theory? Even hardline scholar Victor Cha has defined it as a failure," pointing out that the denuclearization rhetoric of past administrations was largely for domestic political purposes.
He added, "It has been seven years since inter-Korean dialogue ceased, and it is essential to resume communication first. The realization that placing denuclearization at the entrance hinders dialogue is what we mean by peace first."
Regarding the possibility of dialogue between North Korea and the U.S., Jeong stated, "I believe there is still a strategic need on both sides for dialogue."
He further emphasized, "We are not mere observers of this (U.S.-North Korea dialogue) but must play a role to facilitate it as much as possible," highlighting that the upcoming visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to the U.S. in September, along with the U.S.-China summit, and former President Donald Trump's visit to China in November will be critical periods.
Jeong remarked, "The President is diligently playing the role of a peacemaker, but we must reflect on whether the government is adequately supporting his efforts," adding, "The Ministry of Unification believes that nothing will happen if we do not take action."
He reflected on his one-year tenure, stating, "When I took office a year ago, inter-Korean relations were in ruins, and I felt the Ministry of Unification was similarly in disarray. I focused on restoring the organization and recovering everyday peace."
Jeong outlined seven major reforms undertaken in the past year, including organizational stability, restoring everyday peace, transitioning to a policy of peaceful coexistence, restructuring North Korea's nuclear and peace strategies, regulatory easing, reforming education on peaceful unification, and improving perceptions of North Korean defectors.
He noted, "Researchers in North Korean studies are feeling quite repressed," pledging that the government will actively support the research ecosystem. He also urged a change in terminology from 'North Korean defectors,' which carries connotations of stigma and exclusion, to 'North Korean residents,' which reflects recognition and integration.
During a visit to the press room at the Government Seoul Building to mark his one-year anniversary in office, Jeong outlined the achievements of the past year.
He stated, "While we have not abandoned the ultimate goal of denuclearization, we have discarded the denuclearization first approach," emphasizing that it has been replaced with a strategy focused on prioritizing peace.
Jeong explained that the terminology has shifted from denuclearization of North Korea to the goal of achieving a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula, detailing a strategy that prioritizes peace and a halt to North Korea's nuclear activities.
He noted, "Isn't it true that both the U.S. and China have effectively abandoned the denuclearization first theory? Even hardline scholar Victor Cha has defined it as a failure," pointing out that the denuclearization rhetoric of past administrations was largely for domestic political purposes.
He added, "It has been seven years since inter-Korean dialogue ceased, and it is essential to resume communication first. The realization that placing denuclearization at the entrance hinders dialogue is what we mean by peace first."
Regarding the possibility of dialogue between North Korea and the U.S., Jeong stated, "I believe there is still a strategic need on both sides for dialogue."
He further emphasized, "We are not mere observers of this (U.S.-North Korea dialogue) but must play a role to facilitate it as much as possible," highlighting that the upcoming visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to the U.S. in September, along with the U.S.-China summit, and former President Donald Trump's visit to China in November will be critical periods.
Jeong remarked, "The President is diligently playing the role of a peacemaker, but we must reflect on whether the government is adequately supporting his efforts," adding, "The Ministry of Unification believes that nothing will happen if we do not take action."
He reflected on his one-year tenure, stating, "When I took office a year ago, inter-Korean relations were in ruins, and I felt the Ministry of Unification was similarly in disarray. I focused on restoring the organization and recovering everyday peace."
Jeong outlined seven major reforms undertaken in the past year, including organizational stability, restoring everyday peace, transitioning to a policy of peaceful coexistence, restructuring North Korea's nuclear and peace strategies, regulatory easing, reforming education on peaceful unification, and improving perceptions of North Korean defectors.
He noted, "Researchers in North Korean studies are feeling quite repressed," pledging that the government will actively support the research ecosystem. He also urged a change in terminology from 'North Korean defectors,' which carries connotations of stigma and exclusion, to 'North Korean residents,' which reflects recognition and integration.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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