Jeong Dongyoung: "Peaceful Two-State Theory Is the Ministry of Unification's Proposal"... Corrects Statement on "Government Proposal" [2025 Audit]

Correction of Previous Response at National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee on the 28th
"Considerable Possibility of North Korea-US Summit... Venue Likely to Be Panmunjom"

Minister of Unification Jeong Dongyoung announced on the 28th that the "peaceful two-state theory" for North and South Korea will be finalized as the position of the Ministry of Unification. He corrected his statement from two weeks ago, in which he had said that the "two-state theory" would be confirmed as the government's official stance.

During the comprehensive audit of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee that day, Minister Jeong responded to a question from Assemblyman Kim Junhyung of the National Innovation Party, who asked whether the "peaceful two-state theory" was the government's official proposal. Jeong replied, "I would like to correct my previous statement that it would be finalized as the government's proposal," and clarified, "It will be finalized as the Ministry of Unification's proposal, and discussions are ongoing within the government."

Jeong Dongyoung, Minister of Unification, is responding to committee members' questions regarding the possibility of North Korea-US talks during the comprehensive audit of the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 28th. On the right is Cho Hyun, Minister of Foreign Affairs. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

He further explained, "To be precise, the Ministry of Unification is currently proceeding with the process of finalizing the 'peaceful two-state theory' aimed at unification," adding, "As a government ministry, the Ministry of Unification addressed this issue at an international academic conference last September, and has continued to discuss it through various seminars and the hosting of the Berlin Global Korea Forum."

Previously, during the National Assembly's audit of the Ministry of Unification by the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee on the 14th, Minister Jeong had stated, "The 'peaceful two-state theory' will be finalized as the government's official stance," indicating that the matter was under discussion. At the time, he remarked, "Could the Basic Agreement between North and South Korea be signed with a 'hostile state' or an 'anti-state organization'? Institutionalizing two peaceful states is the very act of opening the door to unification," emphasizing that the "peaceful two-state theory" is a methodology for peaceful coexistence.

Regarding the possibility of a surprise meeting between the leaders of North Korea and the United States on the occasion of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, Minister Jeong predicted, "There is a significant possibility that North Korea will participate."

He added, "Now, it is up to Chairman Kim Jong Un to make a decision, and I believe he is considering several strategic points," and continued, "I think there may be a statement from Vice Department Director Kim Yo Jong either today or tomorrow."

As for the location of a possible North Korea-US summit, Minister Jeong said, "North Korea has preferred Pyongyang in the past, but in order for that to happen, working-level contacts would be necessary, making it a long and arduous process. If a surprise meeting does take place this time, it will likely be at Panmunjom."

Minister Jeong also stated, "To my knowledge, there have been no discussions between South Korea and the United States presupposing a North Korea-US summit." However, he added, "If a North Korea-US meeting were to take place in this current situation, where there is a complete absence of dialogue and North Korea's nuclear capabilities are advancing, it would mark a significant turning point."

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