Opening remarks at inter-Korean talks headquarters national audit

'DMZ mine accident unfortunate; must prevent recurrence'

Unification Minister Jeong Dong-young delivers an institutional report at the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee national audit held at the inter-Korean talks headquarters in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on Wednesday. [Yonhap]
Unification Minister Jeong Dong-young delivers an institutional report at the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee national audit held at the inter-Korean talks headquarters in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on Wednesday. [Yonhap]

Unification Minister Jeong Dong-young on Wednesday declared his commitment to building lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula, citing more than seven years of severed inter-Korean dialogue and North Korea's continued nuclear advancement.

Speaking at the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee national audit held at the inter-Korean talks headquarters in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Jeong said inter-Korean dialogue "has been at a standstill for more than seven years" while North Korea "advances its nuclear capabilities day by day." "With conflicts continuing around the world and the international situation in turmoil, peace — a peace where there is no need to fight, a peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula — is more urgently needed than ever," he said.

Jeong also offered condolences over a recent landmine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone and pledged to prevent a recurrence. "About two weeks ago, our soldiers were injured by a landmine planted by North Korea in the DMZ — a deeply regrettable accident," he said. "I offer my sincere condolences and wish the soldiers a swift recovery. We must be thoroughly prepared to ensure such a tragedy never happens again. Alongside this, the need for efforts toward fundamental peace has become all the more urgent."

He then outlined the government's peace vision. "The president has repeatedly presented a three-part blueprint for peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula — through his Liberation Day address and his keynote speech at the UN General Assembly," Jeong said. "Peaceful coexistence means living together even when we think differently. We will push forward without delay on follow-up measures to build on the Peninsula an inclusive peaceful coexistence based on mutual respect, a stable peaceful coexistence where there is no need to fight, and a responsible peaceful coexistence that contributes to world peace."

"As the president has said, the most essential task is to end the old war on the Korean Peninsula and establish a peace regime," Jeong said. "We must transform the unstable situation — where military tensions persist and hostility and confrontation repeat under the armistice system — into a sustained and stable peace."

Closing his remarks, Jeong said the government would "devote all its capabilities to ensuring that discussions on a Korean Peninsula peace regime can take place, as a party to the issue and as a proactive peacemaker." "We will closely monitor the flow of events, respond strategically, and do our utmost to realize a peace that the people can feel in their daily lives," he said. "I hope this national audit will serve as a constructive opportunity to review and advance government policy toward peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula."


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