Seoul (ANTARA) - South Korea is shifting its policy focus towards\npeaceful coexistence with North Korea rather than pursuing pressure and\nconfrontation, as outlined in the Korean Unification White Paper, the\nannual report from South Korea\u2019s Ministry of Unification released on\nMonday.<\/p>\n
The report reflects a markedly different tone compared to previous\nadministrations. The document mirrors the efforts of the South Korean\ngovernment, currently under the leadership of President Lee Jae Myung\nsince June 2025, to improve relations on the Korean Peninsula based on\nmutual trust.<\/p>\n
The South Korean administration, which was considerably more\nconservative under Yoon Suk Yeol, previously sought to bring change to\nNorth Korea through pressure and the influx of external information. The\nlatest White Paper contains three core principles: South Korea will\nrespect North Korea\u2019s system, will not pursue reunification through\nabsorption, and will not engage in hostile activities.<\/p>\n
Among the measures mentioned, the Lee administration has decided to\ncease the distribution of anti-Pyongyang leaflets to North Korea and\nhalt loudspeaker broadcasts along the border area as an effort to ease\nmilitary tensions and rebuild trust. The document also outlines plans to\nrevive the 19 September Military Pact, signed by former President Moon\nJae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in 2018, and to pursue\nbilateral agreements to build a systematic foundation for peaceful\ncoexistence.<\/p>\n
The shift in policy priorities is clearly visible in the language\nused within the White Paper. Mentions of \u2018peace\u2019 and \u2018peaceful\ncoexistence\u2019 have surged to 196 instances from a previous 29; meanwhile,\nreferences to \u2018meetings\u2019 or \u2018dialogue\u2019 increased to 58 from 16.\nConversely, mentions of \u2018North Korean defectors\u2019 plummeted to just 10,\ndown from 203.<\/p>\n
Despite Seoul offering a peaceful approach, inter-Korean relations\nremain practically frozen. There has been no human exchange between the\ntwo Koreas for the past five years and no economic exchange at all,\naccording to the White Paper. Meanwhile, Pyongyang continues to\nstrengthen its \u2018Two-State Policy\u2019\u2014an official doctrine stating that\nNorth and South Korea are at war\u2014by revising its constitution to remove\nall references to reunification and severing remaining ties with\nSeoul.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/south-koreas-unification-white-paper-prioritises-coexistence-with-north-korea-1780913647", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }