Ministry of Unification: "If North Korea stops criticizing South Korea and presents demands, we will negotiate"

"Not a Demand for Denuclearization First... An Open Proposal"

Ministry of Unification [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] The Ministry of Unification clarified that the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's denuclearization roadmap, the "Bold Initiative," does not demand prior denuclearization from North Korea. In particular, the Bold Initiative emphasizes that it is an "open initiative," leaving room for negotiations if the North stops its anti-South rhetoric and presents its demands.

A Ministry of Unification official told reporters on the 22nd, "The Bold Initiative is an improved measure based on past lessons of 'North Korea's partial denuclearization, compensation for it, and then returning to square one,' including specific reciprocal actions to be taken," explaining the difference from past demands for prior denuclearization.

Through a public information release issued the previous day, the Ministry of Unification divided the Bold Initiative into three stages: initial measures and comprehensive agreement → substantial denuclearization → complete denuclearization, and presented an outline of economic, political, and military reciprocal measures for each stage. Some raised concerns that pursuing a comprehensive agreement at the initial stage might imply a demand for prior denuclearization from North Korea.

The Ministry official reiterated, "Even before reaching a comprehensive agreement, if North Korea comes to negotiations with sincerity, two programs?the Korea Peninsula resource and food exchange program and the North Korean livelihood improvement pilot project?can be implemented through consultations with North Korea and related countries, which differs from past demands for prior denuclearization."

He added, "The Bold Initiative is an open initiative," stating, "Since it is an initiative that cooperatively discusses even the concerns of the North, if the North presents specific demands instead of continuing its anti-South criticism as it does now, the government will also negotiate regarding the North's demands."

The Ministry of Unification plans to further specify and continuously develop the Bold Initiative by reflecting domestic and international conditions and opinions from various experts. It also expressed its intention to closely cooperate with related countries, including the United States.

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