Jeong Dongyoung Announces Shift from "Denuclearization First" to "Peace First" Policy

“Goal Redefined as ‘Realization of a Nuclear-Free Korean Peninsula’ Instead of Denuclearization”

Minister of Unification Jeong Dongyoung announced that he has abolished the previous administration's North Korea policy of "denuclearization first" and "preemptive nuclear dismantlement," and has shifted the policy direction to "peace first."

Jeong Dongyoung, Minister of Unification, is holding a one-year inauguration press conference at the Ministry of Unification press room in the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 23rd. Photo by Yonhap News

At the one-year inauguration press briefing held at the Ministry of Unification press room in the Government Seoul Office on the 23rd, Minister Jeong stated, "We have redefined our objective as the realization of a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula, instead of simply using North Korea's denuclearization as a term," adding, "We are concretizing a strategy that prioritizes halting North Korea's nuclear program through a peace-driven approach."

He went on to say, "The theory of preemptive denuclearization lacks practicality. Even superpowers have abandoned the idea of denuclearization first. Even hardline scholars on North Korea, such as Victor Cha, the Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), have defined the failure of denuclearization-first policies." He further asserted, "The calls for denuclearization first by the previous administration were largely for domestic political purposes."

However, Minister Jeong clarified, "The government has not abandoned its ultimate goal of denuclearization, but what we have discarded is the 'denuclearization first' approach, replacing it with a 'nuclear freeze first' policy." The Lee Jaemyung administration aims for a "nuclear-free Korean Peninsula" as the solution to the North Korean nuclear issue, pursuing a three-stage approach: ▲ initial halt to the North Korean nuclear program, ▲ nuclear arms reduction, and ▲ final denuclearization.

Minister Jeong also stressed that, given the current inter-Korean relationship, resuming dialogue should take precedence. He explained, "Dialogue has been suspended for seven years. As long as preemptive denuclearization is set as a prerequisite, dialogue cannot be achieved. This concern is reflected in the 'peace first' approach."

Regarding the possibility of U.S.-North Korea talks, he said, "There is still mutual strategic demand from both Washington and Pyongyang." He predicted, "September, when Chinese President Xi Jinping visits the United States, and November, when U.S. President Donald Trump visits China for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, will be critical moments." He emphasized, "We should not merely be observers; we must do our utmost to play a proactive role in making these developments happen."

He identified the Lee Jaemyung administration's shift from a policy of "hostility and confrontation" to one of "peaceful coexistence" over the past year as a key achievement. Minister Jeong said, "We abandoned the previous administration’s so-called 'March North for Freedom' policy and announced a policy of peaceful coexistence for the Korean Peninsula. We made consistent efforts to break the vicious cycle of mutual denunciation and confrontation and laid the groundwork for peaceful coexistence based on mutual respect." He added, "As an implementation strategy for the Korean Peninsula peaceful coexistence policy, we proposed a 'peaceful two states aiming for unification,' which has also been included in the White Paper on Unification."

In addition, during the past year, Minister Jeong cited "seven major reforms," including normalization of the organizational structure of the Ministry of Unification, restoration of the North Korean studies research ecosystem, regulatory relaxation to expand civilian contact with North Korea, and a shift in unification education from security-centered to peace-centered. Furthermore, he announced that operations at the Settlement Support Center for North Korean Refugees (Hanawon), a national security facility, have shifted toward greater autonomy and openness. He explained that barbed wire fencing at the facility has been dismantled and that trainees are now permitted to use mobile phones. He also revealed that there are plans to change the term "defector from North Korea" to "Bukhyangmin," meaning "people from the North."

Meanwhile, regarding the former U.S. Congresswoman Michelle Steel, who has been nominated as the next U.S. ambassador to South Korea, Minister Jeong said, "I understand she will assume her post at the end of July. I expect there will be an opportunity to meet her soon after her arrival."

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