Jeong Dong-young: "The South and North Are the Constants on the Korean Peninsula, Surrounding Countries Are Variables... Variables Now Overwhelm the Constants"

On the 17th, Minister of Unification Jeong Dongyoung stated, "The parties to the Korean Peninsula issue are the South and the North—this is a constant; neighboring countries are merely variables," adding, "Right now, the variables are overwhelming the constant. This is a tragedy."

Minister Jeong made these remarks at the 4th meeting of the Korean Peninsula Peace Strategy Advisory Group, held in the large conference room on the 3rd floor of the Inter-Korean Dialogue Headquarters of the Ministry of Unification on the same day.

Jeong Dongyoung, Minister of Unification, is speaking at the 4th meeting of the Korean Peninsula Peace Strategy Advisory Group held on the 3rd floor large conference room of the Ministry of Unification's Inter-Korean Dialogue Headquarters on the 17th. Provided by the Ministry of Unification

Looking back on his five-hour meeting with Kim Jong Il, Chairman of North Korea's National Defense Commission, on June 17, 2005, twenty years ago in Pyongyang, Minister Jeong said, "The conclusion of my conversation with Chairman Kim at the time was 'We are the parties to this issue; neighboring countries are just that—neighboring countries. Our destiny is ours to determine, so let's act boldly.'" He went on to say, "As a result, it became the starting point for a second June 15th era, and three months later, it led to the September 19th Beijing Joint Statement. I believe that the September 19th Beijing Joint Statement of 2005 was the first time in modern Korean diplomatic history that the North and South took the lead in creating an international document concerning our own destiny."

Recently, changes in the international situation, such as the war between the United States and Iran, have had a direct impact on the situation on the Korean Peninsula. Nevertheless, the remarks are interpreted as emphasizing the importance of the two Koreas maintaining leadership in resolving issues on the peninsula.

Experts attending the meeting reached a consensus on the need to move beyond the framework of a special inter-Korean relationship and to recognize North Korea as a sovereign state, as well as to pursue a peaceful coexistence policy to dispel concerns about unification by absorption.

Former Minister of Unification Jeong Sehyun diagnosed, "The premise of a 'special relationship temporarily formed in the process of pursuing unification and maintaining and managing inter-Korean relations' is now over." He continued, "Now is the time to recognize North Korea as a normal state like China or Russia, and to refer to it by its official name. We, too, should use the abbreviation 'Joseon' or the full name 'Democratic People's Republic of Korea,' as this may provide openings, however small."

Kwon Manhak, honorary professor at Kyonggi University, said, "South Korea is still maintaining laws and systems that define North Korea as an anti-state entity, but only by establishing legal systems that recognize North Korea as an independent country can we lay the foundation for peaceful coexistence."

There was also criticism that the content of the recent joint statement between South Korea and the European Union, released during President Lee Jaemyung's trip to Europe, does not align with the current administration's policy of peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula. The joint statement included both condemnation of North Korea-Russia military cooperation and a declaration that North Korea would not be recognized as a nuclear state. North Korea, for its part, protested via a statement by a spokesperson for the 10th Bureau of the Foreign Ministry, calling it "a clear infringement of our sovereignty and a grave hostile act."

Former Minister Jeong Sehyun commented, "North Korea policy and messaging must be consistent and sustainable so that North Korean officials can anticipate our actions. However, there is inconsistency between the remarks of the president and his aides, and a lack of alignment between words and actions."

Lee Hyejeong, professor at Chung-Ang University, expressed concern, saying, "The administration has merely accepted and adapted to the rules of conduct set by the EU. If this continues, there is a risk that the Lee Jaemyung administration's foreign policy in its second year will fall into confusion." Koo Kapwoo, professor at the University of North Korean Studies, also commented, "It fundamentally clashes with the policy of peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula and stands in stark contrast to what President Lee said at his first-anniversary press conference."

Meanwhile, the advisory meeting was attended by 15 senior experts in inter-Korean relations, including former Minister of Unification Jeong Sehyun and Kim Yeoncheol, Chairman of the Korean Peninsula Peace Forum, as well as academics and journalists. They discussed the outlook for the situation on the Korean Peninsula and the direction for advancing peaceful coexistence policies.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.