Seoul: Unification Minister Chung Dong-young called for a strategic shift away from the long-standing 'denuclearization first' approach to addressing North Korea's nuclear issue, arguing that this precondition has contributed to the stagnation of diplomatic efforts with Pyongyang.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Chung emphasized in his keynote speech at the Korean Peninsula Symposium, co-hosted by Yonhap News Agency, that focusing solely on denuclearization has inadvertently allowed North Korea to enhance its nuclear and weapons capabilities over the past three decades. He urged a move towards a phased and pragmatic solution.
Chung highlighted that historical breakthroughs in nuclear diplomacy with North Korea occurred when involved nations, including South Korea and the United States, engaged in direct dialogue with Pyongyang. He advocated for a step-by-step approach that includes freezing, reducing, and eventually denuclearizing North Korea's nuclear program.
The Unification Minister called for the initiation of dialogue between the United States and North Korea as a starting point for this phased approach. Citing the 2018 Singapore summit, he underscored the importance of resuming talks to end mutual hostility and establish a new relationship, which could pave the way for broader discussions among the U.S., China, and the two Koreas.
Chung concluded by noting that China has shown support for this pragmatic approach, and the resumption of U.S.-North Korea dialogue could act as a catalyst for four-party talks aimed at achieving lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.