Seoul: The unification ministry announced plans to create a five-year blueprint aimed at fostering peaceful coexistence with North Korea, as South Korea seeks to reopen dialogue with its northern neighbor. This initiative marks a shift from previous strategies, focusing on long-term inter-Korean relations under the Lee Jae Myung administration.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Unification Minister Chung Dong-young led a government meeting to discuss the new five-year plan. The strategy will highlight President Lee's commitment to peace and coexistence on the Korean Peninsula, moving away from the former conservative Yoon Suk Yeol administration's focus on denuclearization.
Since assuming office in June last year, President Lee has prioritized mending the strained relations with North Korea, emphasizing dialogue to reduce tensions. Lee has made it clear that his administration respects North Korea's system and opposes any unification through absorption or hostile actions.
In contrast, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, during a key party meeting in late 2023, described inter-Korean relations as hostile and reiterated that unification with South Korea is not an objective.
Minister Chung emphasized that the primary policy goal is peace, stating that the notion of using peaceful coexistence as a strategy against North Korea is not part of their agenda.