US Perry: "Diplomatic Solution Still Valid Despite North Korea's Nuclear Progress"

The Main Figures of the North Korea-US Thaw 'Perry Process'
"We Must Jointly Create Evolved Denuclearization and Peace Between Korea and the US"
Lee In-young, Minister of Unification - Chung Se-hyun, Senior Vice Chairman of the National Unification Advisory Council, Hold Video Meeting

On the 18th, the Ministry of Unification announced that Minister Lee In-young (top right) held a video conference in the minister's office at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu with former Minister William Perry (top left) and Jeong Se-hyun, Senior Vice Chairman of the National Unification Advisory Council.

Minister of Unification Lee In-young and former U.S. Secretary of Defense William Perry held a video conference to discuss solutions for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Former Secretary Perry, who served as the Special Advisor for North Korea Policy in October 1999, proposed the North Korea policy roadmap known as the "Perry Process" and led a thaw in North Korea-U.S. relations.

On the 18th, the Ministry of Unification announced that Minister Lee held a video meeting at the Minister's office in the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu with former Secretary Perry and Jeong Se-hyun, Senior Vice Chairman of the National Unification Advisory Council.

At the meeting, former Secretary Perry stated, "There have been advances in North Korea's nuclear capabilities and the situation has changed," but added, "Diplomatic solutions for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula remain valid," emphasizing the need to jointly develop a more advanced denuclearization and peace process between South Korea and the U.S., according to the Ministry of Unification.

Minister Lee said, "Learning from the Perry Process, which was based on coordination and cooperation between the Kim Dae-jung and Clinton administrations, we will gather wisdom to restart the peace process on the Korean Peninsula and strengthen cooperation with the U.S. government."

Senior Vice Chairman Jeong Se-hyun evaluated that the Perry Process significantly contributed to easing tensions on the Korean Peninsula during the People's Government era and stated that it is now time for a more advanced peace and denuclearization roadmap, such as "Perry Process 2.0."

Senior Vice Chairman Jeong served as the Presidential Secretary for Unification under the Kim Young-sam administration when Perry was Secretary of Defense, and later as Vice Minister of Unification under the Kim Dae-jung administration when Perry was Special Advisor for North Korea Policy.

This video conference was arranged to listen to the past experiences and wisdom of Korean and American elders who have contributed to establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula and to derive lessons for future North Korea policies.

Meanwhile, the Perry Process centered on a three-stage approach where North Korea would take measures such as halting missile and nuclear development, followed by economic compensation, normalization of North Korea-U.S. relations, and establishment of a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula. Former Secretary Perry visited North Korea in May 1999, and then Secretary of State Madeleine Albright met with Chairman Kim Jong-il in Pyongyang. Although normalization of North Korea-U.S. relations seemed imminent, the Perry Process was halted with the arrival of the George W. Bush administration.

The Perry Process is also interpreted as evidence that South Korea's communication and persuasion efforts with the U.S. can dramatically influence U.S. North Korea policy. When the first North Korean nuclear crisis occurred in 1994, Perry was a hawk who advocated for bombing the Yongbyon nuclear facility, even at the risk of full-scale war. It is known that when Perry visited South Korea, President Kim Dae-jung personally met with him and persuaded him for over an hour. Later, Lim Dong-won, then Senior Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Security at the Blue House, also flew to the U.S. and persistently persuaded Perry.

Earlier, Minister Lee also met with Frank Jannuzi, head of the Mansfield Foundation, who visited Korea at the end of last month. Jannuzi served as an aide when Biden was chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and is considered a Biden associate. A Ministry of Unification official said, "We plan to communicate through various channels with personnel from the incoming U.S. administration whenever possible," signaling active management of South Korea-U.S. communication channels.

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