On the 25th, at a press conference held at the government complex, Minister of Unification Chung Dong-young reaffirmed the stance that South and North Korea are realistically two states, but clarified that this does not imply permanent division. He emphasized that recognizing the statehood of North Korea within the context of a special relationship formed in the interim process toward unification is merely from a realistic and practical perspective, and aimed at maintaining flexibility in inter-Korean relations.
Furthermore, Minister Chung underscored the urgency of halting North Korea’s nuclear development, stating that sanctions alone are insufficient. He suggested that the breakthrough lies in a summit between the United States and North Korea. He elaborated that North Korea currently holds about 2000 kg of highly enriched uranium and stressed the necessity of stopping related activities urgently.
Minister Chung also addressed the recent debate on the “peaceful two-state theory,” defending it against criticisms suggesting it meant abandoning unification. He clarified that acknowledging North Korea’s statehood does not equate to giving up on unification. Despite differing views among high-ranking officials on this theory, Chung dismissed the ensuing debate as unproductive and highlighted practical challenges such as how to restore dialogue and exchanges and achieving diplomatic recognition with the U.S. and Japan.
In response to certain issues such as suspension of military exercises near the Demilitarized Zone and addressing the requests of repatriation from unconverted long-term prisoners, Minister Chung indicated ongoing collaborations with relevant ministries and the need for North Korea’s engagement. He also mentioned the importance of engagement between leaders like President Lee Jae-myung and Chairman Kim Jong-un to transform the history of the Korean Peninsula, expressing that a unified effort could illuminate the region entirely.