Unification Ministry Proposes Three Directions for Peaceful Coexistence... "Restoring Gyeongwon Line and Reforming Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund"

On the 5th, the Ministry of Unification conducted a work briefing to President Lee Jae-myung at the Blue House and announced its plans to pursue various policies aimed at realizing peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula. During the briefing, Minister of Unification Chung Dong-young explained the vision for peaceful coexistence centered on three basic directions: ▲ mutual respect and reciprocal cooperation, ▲ peaceful conflict resolution and crisis management, and ▲ promotion of a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula and peace in Northeast Asia.

To achieve this, the Ministry of Unification plans to expand the official use of inter-Korean designations, replace the term 'main enemy,' restore the September 19 Inter-Korean Military Agreement, and pursue the peaceful use of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). In particular, to establish a foundation for inter-Korean exchange, the restoration project for the southern section of the Gyeongwon Line (Baekmagoji to Woljeong-ri), which had been suspended for 10 years, will resume. The ministry added that once the restoration of the Gyeongwon Line is completed, it will connect to Wonsan-Kalma, laying the groundwork for linkage with continental railways.

Additionally, the ministry will pursue a revision of the enforcement decree to increase the execution rate of the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund, which had remained in the 2-3% range on an annual average. This government public fund, which has been used exclusively for inter-Korean exchange and cooperation, will be actively utilized going forward to support peace economic special zones in border regions, revitalize private unification movements, and restore the North Korean studies research ecosystem.

For cooperation with the international community, the ministry's policy is to secure momentum for four-party dialogue and facilitate a North Korea-U.S. summit, taking advantage of the UN General Assembly in September and the APEC Summit in Shenzhen, China, in November. Furthermore, the government is considering official-level participation in the Eastern Economic Forum in Russia this September, with the possibility of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's visit to Russia also being mentioned around that time.

"Using 'Joseon' Designation and Deleting 'Main Enemy' Inevitable"... President Lee Jae-myung: "Terms and Expressions Should Not Be Subject to Political Strife"

Minister Chung emphasized that stopping the language of confrontation and hostility between the two Koreas and addressing each other by name is the first step toward peaceful coexistence. He conveyed the position that the use of North Korea's official name ('Democratic People's Republic of Korea (Joseon)')—which had been controversial due to constitutional concerns and security debate—and the plan to delete the term 'main enemy' from the Defense White Paper are inevitable steps to practice peaceful coexistence.

In response, President Lee Jae-myung called for continued pursuit of policies for peace and coexistence, while also urging a cautious approach. President Lee pointed out that actions taken with good intentions can be distorted and exaggerated, potentially becoming weapons of anti-peace, anti-coexistence, or hostility, noting that even a single term or expression could become the subject of political strife. He stressed that issues such as the use of North Korea's official name and the replacement of the term 'main enemy' carry a high risk of social conflict and thus require special caution.

In particular, the president emphasized the need to actively respond to distorted claims regarding the Ministry of Unification's North Korea policy. Regarding the establishment of a Northeast Asia peace resource center, he noted that some people are spreading false information by claiming it is 'building a North Korean library,' and instructed that legal sanctions be considered against malicious distortions of facts.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs: "Unification Ministry's Vision Merely an Unrealized Aspiration Without Proper Discussion"

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs poured cold water on the Ministry of Unification's vision. Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul stated regarding some of the Ministry of Unification's policies, including the four-party dialogue proposal, that "much of it has not gone through proper discussion and agreement." In particular, clarifying that participation in the Eastern Economic Forum in Russia falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the ministry described the proposal as "merely an aspiration based on idealism, one of the approaches that has not yet been coordinated."