Seoul: Unification Minister Chung Dong-young stated Wednesday that the "peace-oriented two-state approach" outlined in this year's unification white paper fundamentally contrasts with North Korea's "two hostile states" policy towards South Korea.
According to Yonhap News Agency, during a parliamentary committee session, Chung emphasized that Seoul's approach acknowledges the existence of two sovereign states on the Korean Peninsula while asserting that inter-Korean ties are not equivalent to relations between foreign countries. "The South and the North are each sovereign states. But they are not foreign countries," Chung explained to lawmakers, highlighting that Pyongyang's two-state vision perceives the South as "a foreign country and that we should live separately."
Chung dismissed criticism suggesting that Seoul's concept equates to abandoning its unification goals or contravening the Constitution. The paper, released on Monday, delineates the Lee Jae Myung government's North Korea policy, focusing on three main principles: respect for North Korea's system, rejection of unification by absorption, and non-engagement in hostile activities.
Additionally, the paper advocates for converting Pyongyang's "hostile two-state policy" into a "peace-oriented two-state" relationship aimed at unification. This wording has drawn criticism from some who argue it risks legitimizing North Korea as a separate sovereign state, potentially violating the Constitution.